Compare towns

Athol vs Coventry vs Orange

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($198k 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.

MeasureAtholCoventryOrange
People
Population
8,801Highest
917Lowest
7,573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.8±3.3Lowest
5% below U.S.
45.2±5.2Highest
16% above U.S.
41.8±2.2
7% above U.S.
Coventry and Orange 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%
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%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Coventry 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±0.9Lowest
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±$3k
26% below U.S.
$55,824±$10kLowest
31% 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.
$245,900±$18k
26% below U.S.
Athol and Orange 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.
$775±$233
45% below U.S.
Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,170
about the U.S. average
$2,375Lowest
24% below U.S.
$4,136Highest
33% above 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%
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%
19.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
63.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1940Lowest
40 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
33 min
24% above U.S.
Work from home
9.7%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±2.8Lowest
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 — #275 of 282 in MA
School district — Coventry 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.