What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).

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	Paxton
People
Population	20,064Highest	5,002Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	41.8±3.3Highest 4% above MA
	Paxton 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%	17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%	18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holden and Paxton 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%	54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA
	Holden and Paxton 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	$472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA
	Paxton and Holden 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	$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA
	Holden and Paxton 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	$7,129Highest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Holden and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 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%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Paxton and Holden 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	#219 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Wachusett
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.