What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holden	Hanson
People
Population	20,064Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA
	Hanson and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA	$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA
	Holden and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA
	Hanson and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Lowest 6% above MA	$6,402Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#57 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.