Compare towns
Holden vs Worcester vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Worcester | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064 |
207,055Highest |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8 4% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.8±3.3Highest 4% above MA |
| Paxton 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%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Holden and Paxton 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Paxton and Worcester 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 |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Holden and Paxton 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Paxton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA |
| Holden and Worcester 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.