Compare towns
Athol vs Sheldon vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most renters (36.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801Highest |
2,267 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Troy and Sheldon 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% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Troy 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Troy 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 17% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Troy and Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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 21% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Athol 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.