Compare towns
Athol vs Athol vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
12,011Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
| Orange 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Orange 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Athol 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
$268,100±$13kHighest 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
16.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.