Compare towns

Athol vs Woonsocket vs Athol

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).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).

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.

MeasureAtholWoonsocketAthol
People
Population
8,801Lowest
43,521Highest
12,011
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.8±3.3
5% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
41.3±1.9Highest
6% above U.S.
Athol 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%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Athol and Woonsocket 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%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Athol 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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±$8k
17% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$69,316±$5kHighest
14% below U.S.
Athol 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±$15kLowest
25% below U.S.
$311,000±$15kHighest
7% below U.S.
$268,100±$13k
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,120±$173Lowest
21% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Highest
18% below U.S.
$1,150±$182
19% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Athol 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
$3,960Highest
27% above U.S.
$3,403
9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.2%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
63.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1940Lowest
40 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1953Highest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.7%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Athol 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 #37 of 38 in RI #256 of 282 in MA
School district — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Athol-Royalston
High school in town — Woonsocket High School Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
11.6Lowest
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.