What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).

Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).

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	Heath
People
Population	8,801Highest	765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA	53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA
Kids under 18	25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Athol and Heath 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 35% below MA	$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA	$295,000±$45kHighest 48% below MA
	Heath 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 36% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,170Lowest 47% below MA	$4,438Highest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21%Highest MA: 10%	6.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 10% below MA	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#256 of 282 in MA	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.