Compare towns
Athol vs Belvidere vs Guildhall
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 renters (27.6% rent).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
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 | Belvidere | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
422 |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall and Athol 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Belvidere 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. |
$81,563±$18k about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Belvidere 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. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Belvidere 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 | — | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.