Compare towns
Athol vs Woonsocket vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AtholAthol
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most people working from home (9.7%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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.
| Measure | Athol | Woonsocket | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
43,521Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3 5% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Orange 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% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest 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% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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±$8kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Athol and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 25% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% 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 |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Orange 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 | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | Woonsocket High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.