Compare towns
North Reading vs Acton vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | North Reading | Acton | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Lowest |
24,155Highest |
20,064 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Acton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holden and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$141,923±$11kLowest 37% above MA |
| Acton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA |
| North Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Acton-Boxborough | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.0 |
| 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.