Compare towns
North Reading vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Northbridge | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Lowest |
16,458 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,648±$214 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,359 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Northbridge | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Northbridge High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.8 |
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.