Compare towns
Holden vs North Reading vs Hanover
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%).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | North Reading | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
15,765 |
14,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Holden 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% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Holden and North Reading 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% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Hanover and North Reading 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 |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| North Reading and Hanover 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,342 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Hanover 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | North Reading | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | North Reading High | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.