Compare towns
Athol vs Pawtucket vs Orange
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).
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Pawtucket | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
75,893Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Athol 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% |
22.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket 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. |
$68,310±$4kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 25% below U.S. |
$325,500±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Athol 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 |
$4,115 32% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Pawtucket 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% |
13.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Pawtucket 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | William E. Tolman High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.