Compare towns
Holden vs Spencer vs North Reading
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%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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 | Spencer | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
12,008Lowest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 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%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest 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±$11k 37% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% 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 |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214 6% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,359 6% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Spencer-E Brookfield | North Reading |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | David Prouty High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
9.9Lowest |
10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.