Compare towns
Athol vs Sutton vs Webster
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 affordable homes ($249k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
2,239Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Webster 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 |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Webster 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Webster |
| High school in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.