What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

Holland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wales	Holland
People
Population	1,929Lowest	2,583Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA	51.9±7.8Highest 30% above MA
	Holland and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wales and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.8%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±3.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Holland and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,006±$6kLowest 14% below MA	$91,979±$12kHighest 12% below MA
	Holland and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA	$333,600±$33kHighest 41% below MA
	Holland and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA	$1,750±$209Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,534Highest 24% below MA	$4,279Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wales and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest MA: 10%	5.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 19% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wales and Holland 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	—	#182 of 282 in MA
School district	Wales	Holland
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.