Compare towns
Holden vs North Reading vs Wilbraham
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 expensive homes ($711k median).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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.
| Measure | Holden | North Reading | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
15,765 |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Wilbraham and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and Wilbraham 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 |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
| North Reading 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±$13k 16% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214 6% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | North Reading | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | North Reading High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
10.1Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.