Compare towns
Holden vs Webster vs Easton
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%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Easton has the most expensive homes ($581k 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 | Webster | Easton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064 |
17,748Lowest |
25,316Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±2Highest 7% above MA |
| Easton 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.7%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Easton and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$124,271±$7k 20% above MA |
| Holden and Easton 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$581,200±$24kHighest 3% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214 6% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,824±$161Highest 4% above MA |
| Easton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,359 6% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,860Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±13.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Easton and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Easton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #95 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Webster | Easton · Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | Bartlett High School | Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
11.6Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.