Welcome to Holden, Massachusetts

Location

Holden is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the rolling hills of central Massachusetts, just north of Worcester, and about forty miles west of Boston. Holden is bounded on the west by Rutland, on the northwest by Princeton, on the east by Sterling and West Boylston, on the southeast by Worcester, and on the southwest by Paxton.

The town encompasses approximately thirty-six square miles, of which 35.0 square miles (91 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), or 3.40%, is water. The landscape is compiled of hills and rivers, including the Quinapoxet River.

History

The town was founded in 1741, and the Town Square was donated by John Hancock, a former Governor of Massachusetts.

Community Demographics

The population was 17,346 at the 2010 census. Holden’s estimated median household income is approximately $85,000/yr, while the estimated Massachusetts average is roughly $64,500. The 2010 Federal Census noted that more than 50% of Holden residents are employed in a professional capacity, with another 24% working in sales and the remainder employed in either construction, service or manufacturing sectors.

Safety

Holden is considered one of the safest communities in Massachusetts according to 2011 FBI statistics. The average in Massachusetts was 4.06 violent crimes committed per 1,000 residents, but Holden residents only experienced .46 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

Municipal Services and Utilities

Holden Municiple Light Department is responsible for town electricity. Water and sewer services are managed by the Holden Department of Public Works. The town’s natural gas provider is Eversource. Several local oil companies provide fuel oil for homes with oil heating.

Other town services include its Council on Aging and Senior Center.

Information on town municipal and government services can be found at https://www.holdenma.gov/.

Government

In June of 1951, Holden became one of the first communities in the state to adopt a Selectman – Town Manager form of government.

Parks and Recreation

The Holden Town Pool is one of the most notable sources of recreation for Holden Residents. The Holden Recreation Department provides exceptional and creative programs, camps, services and facilities (such as town pool, ball fields and playgrounds) that enhance community spirit and quality of life for people of all ages in Holden. Holden is also home to Trout Brook, the Wachusett Greenways Rail Trail and is only 12.7 miles from Wachusett Mountain.

Schools

Holden is part of the five-town Wachusett Regional School District that includes the neighboring towns of Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling. Each town has their own elementary and middle schools and the towns share the newly renovated Wachusett Regional High School. Wachusett was the first regional school district in Massachusetts.

Elementary Schools: Holden has three elementary schools: Davis Hill Elementary, Dr. Leroy E. Mayo Elementary, and Dawson Elementary.

Middle School: Mountview Middle School for grades 6-8 which was newly built in 2016.

High School: Students may choose to attend Wachusett Regional High School in Holden or Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School (“Monty Tech”) in Fitchburg.

Holden also serves as the hometown for Holden Christian Academy, a PS-8 private Christian school.