What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holden has the most kids (24.9% under 18).

Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k 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.

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

Measure	Holden	Suffield
People
Population	20,064Highest	15,702Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S.
	Suffield 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 U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holden and Suffield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Holden and Suffield 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 76% above U.S.	$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S.
	Holden and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kHighest 41% above U.S.	$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Highest 17% above U.S.	$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average
	Holden and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Lowest 104% above U.S.	$6,456Highest 107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Suffield 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Suffield 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	#57 of 149 in CT
School district	Wachusett	Suffield School District
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Suffield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.