Compare towns
Paxton vs Hamilton 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 homeowners (91.8%).
Hamilton has the most expensive homes ($720k 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 | Hamilton | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
7,600 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hamilton and Paxton 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% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above 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±$29k 16% below MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,648±$214 6% below MA |
| Hamilton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Paxton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Hamilton-Wenham | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.