What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k 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	Millis
People
Population	20,064Highest	8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	46.4±3Highest 16% above MA
Kids under 18	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Millis 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%	54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Millis 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	$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA
	Millis 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	$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA	$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA
	Millis 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	$9,344Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Millis and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holden and Millis 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	#63 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Millis
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	10.7Lowest
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.