What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Cornish
People
Population	8,801Highest	1,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S.	54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S.	$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S.	$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Cornish and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S.
	Cornish 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	$5,796Highest 86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Cornish 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%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cornish 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	—
School district	—	Cornish School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.