What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Reading	Holden
People
Population	15,765Lowest	20,064Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA
	North Reading and Holden 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%	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%	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Holden and North Reading 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%	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest 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	$141,923±$11kLowest 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	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 62% above MA	$6,359Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	26.1%±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	#57 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Wachusett
High school in town	North Reading High	Wachusett Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	13.0Highest
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.