Compare towns
Paxton vs Harvard 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%).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k 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 | Harvard | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
6,927 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% 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 | $7,129 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% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #219 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Harvard | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.