What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Spencer has the most renters (37% 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	Spencer
People
Population	20,064Highest	12,008Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA
	Spencer 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%	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Spencer 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	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kHighest 16% below MA	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Highest 6% above MA	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer 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%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holden and Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	9.9Lowest
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.