Compare towns
Medway vs Worcester vs Holliston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medway has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Holliston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Medway | Worcester | Holliston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,436 |
831Lowest |
15,094Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.2±1.9 16% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $173,750±$18kHighest 115% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$159,817±$9k 98% above U.S. |
| Medway and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $617,300±$21k 86% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$650,300±$20kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Holliston and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$205 11% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,821±$225Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Holliston and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,730 180% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,397Highest 201% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.3%±21.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holliston and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Holliston and Worcester 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 | #40 of 282 in MA | — | #38 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medway | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Holliston |
| High school in town | Medway High | None in town | Holliston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.