The Town FilesHolliston, Massachusetts
Town in Middlesex County · population 14,996 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $650,300
- Household income
- $159,817
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 45.2
Holliston is a town of 14,996 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $650,300, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for families than 90% of Massachusetts towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Massachusetts towns, more upscale than 87% of Massachusetts towns.
How Holliston ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Holliston is worth $650,300, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $159,817, which is more affordable than 70% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,821 a month. 87.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Holliston | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $650,300 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,821 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $159,817 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 87.4% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Holliston
| People | Holliston | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.9% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.9% | — |
| Work from home | 31.1% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 34.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Holliston
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holliston since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 9, 1953 about 8.0 miles from the town center and killed 90. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 90 deaths and 1,247 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 7, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 28, 2020.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Holliston itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Holliston
4 public schools with 2,724 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holliston High | 9-12 | 803 | 13.0 |
| Placentino Elementary | PK-2 | 686 | 14.6 |
| Robert H. Adams Middle School | 6-8 | 655 | 12.8 |
| Miller School | 3-5 | 580 | 11.6 |
Towns near Holliston
- Medway, MA3.0 mi · 13,115 people · home $617,300
- Hopkinton, MA4.2 mi · 2,651 people · home $666,400
- Milford, MA4.3 mi · 30,379 people · home $476,700
- Ashland, MA4.4 mi · 18,832 people · home $611,700
- Milford, MA4.5 mi · 26,971 people · home $464,700
- Sherborn, MA4.8 mi · 4,401 people · home $1,026,800
- Millis, MA4.9 mi · 8,460 people · home $603,500
- Hopkinton, MA4.9 mi · 18,758 people · home $802,700
Holliston questions
Is Holliston, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Holliston scores better for retirees than 65% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 54%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Holliston?
The median owner-occupied home in Holliston is valued at $650,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $159,817, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,821 a month.
What is the weather like in Holliston?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 48.3 inches of snow.
Does Holliston get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holliston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)