Compare towns
Athol vs Cornish vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AtholAthol
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Cornish has the highest household income ($92k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Cornish | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801Highest |
1,816Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Orange 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% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest 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% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Orange 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 17% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 25% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% 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±$173 21% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% 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. |
$4,136 33% 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% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Cornish School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.