Compare towns
Holden vs Hanson vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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.
| Measure | Holden | Hanson | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
10,660 |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
| Princeton and Hanson 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% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Princeton 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest 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±$11k 37% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton and Holden 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 |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Hanson and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214 6% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,633Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Hanson 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Whitman-Hanson | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.