Compare towns
Holden vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | Sterling | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
8,183Lowest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Holden 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above 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±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975 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%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Wachusett | North Reading |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | None in town | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.