What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Coventry has the most homeowners (82.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Athol	Coventry
People
Population	8,801Highest	917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S.	45.2±5.2Highest 16% above U.S.
	Coventry 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 U.S.: 22%	20.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Coventry 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%	22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,394±$8kHighest 17% below U.S.	$59,342±$3kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Athol and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,700±$15kHighest 25% below U.S.	$197,900±$55kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Athol and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$173Highest 21% below U.S.	$755±$108Lowest 47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,170Highest about the U.S. average	$2,375Lowest 24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	1.5%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	21%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	19.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Athol and Coventry 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	—	Coventry 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.