Compare towns
North Reading vs Fairhaven vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Fairhaven | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Lowest |
15,903 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Fairhaven 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%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and North Reading 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% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
| North Reading and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,648±$214 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$6,359 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Fairhaven 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Fairhaven | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Fairhaven High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.4 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.