Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Webster
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 most people working from home (9.7%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Orange | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
7,573Lowest |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Webster 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 MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
18.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$333,100±$14kHighest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
| Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
$3,234 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
16%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school 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 |
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.