Compare towns
North Reading vs Putney vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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.
| Measure | North Reading | Putney | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765 |
2,622Lowest |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.5±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holden and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$141,923±$11k 76% above U.S. |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$470,700±$13k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,648±$214 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,359 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Reading High | None in town | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.