Compare towns
Athol vs Brookline vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Brookline | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
531Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Webster 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% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Webster |
| High school in town | — | — | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.