Compare towns
Athol vs Thompson vs Warren
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 kids (25.2% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
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 | Thompson | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
9,337Highest |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Warren 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Warren and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Athol and Thompson 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 |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.