Compare towns
North Reading vs Windham vs Worcester 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).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Holden has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
594Lowest |
831 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.5±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Worcester 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% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Holden 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 83% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$470,700±$13k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,648±$214 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,359 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 282 in MA | — | — | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | None yet | None yet | 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.