What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Medway has the most expensive homes ($617k 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	Medway
People
Population	20,064Highest	13,436Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Highest 4% above MA	40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average
	Holden and Medway 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%	22.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%	15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holden and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kLowest 37% above MA	$173,750±$18kHighest 67% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA	$617,300±$21kHighest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA	$1,575±$205Lowest 11% below MA
	Holden and Medway 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	$8,730Highest 46% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Holden and Medway 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%	3.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.7%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Medway and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#57 of 282 in MA	#40 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Medway
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Medway High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	13.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.