Compare towns
Athol vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k 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 | Hampton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
1,647Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Webster 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 |
$4,364Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampton School District | Webster |
| High school in town | — | None 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.