Compare towns
Adams vs Athol vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
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.
| Measure | Adams | Athol | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
8,801Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| Adams and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| North Brookfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
$359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,120±$173Highest 36% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Athol and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638 39% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,176Highest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
12.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1940 24 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield and Athol 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | — | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.