Compare towns
Athol vs Athol vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AtholOrange
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Athol | Athol | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
12,011Highest |
7,430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Epping and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Epping School District |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.