Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AtholAthol
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
7,573Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 17% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 25% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Williston 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| 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.