Compare towns
North Reading vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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 | Worcester | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Lowest |
207,055Highest |
20,064 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.5±1.8 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%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,648±$214 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,359 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Reading High | South High Community | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.0 |
| 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.