Town · Massachusetts
Holliston, Massachusetts
Holliston, town, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Holliston had 15,206 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 14,996 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 15,094 (±24). GEOID 2501730700.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
15,206
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 14,996 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,094 ±24
Median household income
$159,817
±$8,576 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$650,300
±$19,946 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,821
±$225 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Holliston and what county is it in?
Holliston is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It covers 18.7 square miles of land, 804 residents per square mile in 2020.
Holliston is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Holliston, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 15,206 people lived in Holliston on July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, in line with Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 14,996 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 15,094 (±24).
| Measure | Holliston | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,094±24 | 1,638,365 | +370 |
| Households | 5,684±284 | 634,215 | +414 |
| Average household size | 2.64±0.13 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,884±273 | 664,267 | +508 |
Holliston's population since 2000
From 13,801 in 2000 to 15,206 in 2025: up 10.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Holliston as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Holliston?
The median resident of Holliston is 45.2 years old; 22.5% are under 18 and 19.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.4%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 6.6%. 10.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Holliston | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2±1.9 | 38.9 | +3.0 |
| Under 18 years | 22.5%±2.0 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.4%±2.4 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 51.6%±2.2 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.8%±2.0 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.4%±2.7 pts | 65.1% | −5.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.6%±1.5 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4%±1.2 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±1.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.9%±2.8 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.2%±3.3 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.0%±1.7 pts | 3.3% | – |
| With a disability | 6.8%±1.5 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.5%±0.8 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.3%±2.0 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 65.9%±4.5 pts | 59.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 29.1%±3.3 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.8%±2.4 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±0.8 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Holliston earn?
Half of Holliston's 5,684 households earn less than $159,817 a year (±$8,576), against $130,847 in Middlesex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $166,562 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Holliston | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $159,817±$8,576 | $130,847 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $199,195±$15,700 | $178,070 | – |
| Per capita income | $75,601±$6,622 | $69,556 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.1%±1.5 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.6%±1.6 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.3%±1.6 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.6%±2.0 pts | 94.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Holliston?
Owners occupy 87.4% of Holliston's occupied homes and renters 12.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $650,300 by its owner (±$19,946). The median renter pays $1,821 a month including utilities, and 44.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Holliston | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $650,300±$19,946 | $727,800 | +$98,211 |
| Median gross rent | $1,821±$225 | $2,201 | +$717 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.8%±20.0 pts | 37.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,291±$92 | $3,224 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 87.4%±4.1 pts | 61.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 12.6%±4.1 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 5,884±273 | 664,267 | +508 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3%±10.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.0%±4.8 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.4%±2.0 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.2%±5.2 pts | 32.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.2%±2.0 pts | 10.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Holliston building?
Builders took permits for 14 new housing units in Holliston in 2025 (10 in single-family houses), 0.9 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Holliston work and get to work?
62.2% of Holliston's workers drive alone and 31.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 34.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Holliston | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.4%±3.1 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4%±1.5 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.2%±4.6 pts | 54.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.3%±1.3 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4%±0.8 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 31.1%±4.2 pts | 24.7% | +22.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.2 min±2.4 | 29.9 min | −4.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Holliston?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Holliston (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $156,875 (Tract 3872.01) to $175,638 (Tract 3872.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3872.01Middlesex County | 5,912 | $156,875 |
| Tract 3872.02Middlesex County | 4,613 | $175,638 |
| Tract 3871Middlesex County | 4,569 | $157,929 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Holliston) · Census block assignment files
How does Holliston compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Holliston is the 829th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 61st-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Holliston ranks 67th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 61st | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 158th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 235th | 461 |
| Median household income | 67th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 87th | 460 |
| Median home value | 140th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 133rd | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 306th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 78th | 459 |
| Median age | 213th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 106th | 460 |
| Work from home | 47th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 96th | 459 |
Holliston's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Holliston with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Holliston?
9 of the 57 figures for Holliston on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Holliston are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.