What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holden	Northbridge
People
Population	20,064Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge 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%	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holden and Northbridge 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%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kHighest 16% below MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
	Holden and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Highest 6% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holden and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Northbridge
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	10.8Lowest
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.