Compare towns
Athol vs Ayer vs Phillipston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Phillipston has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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.
| Measure | Athol | Ayer | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
8,645 |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Phillipston 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 33% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
| Ayer and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,375±$849 22% below MA |
| Ayer and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,914 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.