Compare towns
Athol vs Tolland vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AtholOrange
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Tolland has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Tolland | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
540Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
51.7±7.2Highest 29% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±5.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Tolland 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% |
39.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Athol 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 35% below MA |
$106,250±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$355,700±$22kHighest 37% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
— | $1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170 47% below MA |
$2,714Lowest 55% below MA |
$3,403Highest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Tolland 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | — | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.