Compare towns
Athol vs Athol vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AtholOrange
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most renters (36.3% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Athol | Athol | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801Lowest |
12,011 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Needham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 35% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Needham |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.