Compare towns
Athol vs Needham vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AtholAthol
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
32,459Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Needham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.