What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windsor has the oldest population (median age 44.8).

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	Windsor
People
Population	8,801Highest	3,554Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S.	44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S.
	Windsor 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 U.S.: 22%	19.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Windsor 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%	29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,394±$8kHighest 17% below U.S.	$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S.
	Athol and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,700±$15kHighest 25% below U.S.	$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S.
	Athol and Windsor 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.	$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Athol and Windsor 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	$5,209Highest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Windsor 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%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S.	1945Highest 35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windsor 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	#61 of 70 in VT
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.