What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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	Wilbraham
People
Population	20,064Highest	14,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA
	Wilbraham 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%	23.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wilbraham 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%	51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Wilbraham 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	$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA
	Holden and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kHighest 16% below MA	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Lowest 6% above MA	$6,658Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 6% below MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holden and Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.