Compare towns
Paxton vs Dudley vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Paxton | Dudley | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
11,929 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Highest 4% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±1.8 4% above MA |
| Paxton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holden and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Paxton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA |
| Holden and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
| Paxton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA |
| Holden and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,359 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Holden 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
13.0Lowest |
| 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.