Massachusetts Living Index

Holden

Central MA · pop. 19,905

Holden is the most affluent and fastest-growing suburb directly northwest of Worcester, with Wachusett Public Schools (B+), Wachusett Reservoir access, and home prices that remain well below comparable eastern Massachusetts suburbs. Route 122A commerce keeps local services active.

Family Suburb

Livability Index

/ 100

Ranks #140 of 194 MA towns

The numbers

Median home

$543k

3.8× household income

Household income

$143k

ACS median

Commute to Boston

62 min

peak driving

Population

19,905

5-yr trend 65/100

How Holden scores

Schools

Safety

Walkability

Transit

Biking

Dining

Nightlife

Arts & Culture

Green Space

Diversity

Climate

The honest read

Best for

Worcester-area workers who want good schools, large lots, and a suburban quality of life at prices substantially below the 495 belt.

The tradeoff

The commute to Boston is 60-plus minutes and worsening as the town grows; public transit is essentially absent.

Compare on your terms

These scores reflect a neutral weighting. Your priorities are not neutral. Open the full atlas to tune schools, walkability, affordability, commute, and seven more dimensions, and see where Holden lands for you.

Open Holden in the atlas About Gary Browse all 194 towns

Nearby towns

Bordering and adjacent Massachusetts towns near Holden.

Popular comparisons

Common head‑to‑heads people search when looking at Holden.

HoldenvsWest Boylston

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