Compare towns
Holden vs North Reading vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064 |
15,765Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8 4% above MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| North Reading and Holden 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%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and North Reading 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214 6% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,359 6% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | North Reading | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | North Reading High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
10.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.