Compare towns
Athol vs Atkinson vs Winchendon
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Atkinson | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,267Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Timberlane Regional School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.