Compare towns
Athol vs Springfield vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most people working from home (9.7%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Springfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801Lowest |
154,749Highest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3 8% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average |
| Webster and Athol 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%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Webster 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 35% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
| Webster 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 56% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Springfield 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 |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$3,999Highest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Webster |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.