What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Springfield
People
Population	8,801Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.8±3.3Highest 8% below MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
	Athol and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Springfield 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%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,394±$8kHighest 35% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,700±$15kHighest 56% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
	Athol and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA	$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA
	Springfield 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	$3,695Highest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 10% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Athol and Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Springfield
High school in town	—	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.