Compare towns
Athol vs Berlin vs Warren
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).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
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 | Berlin | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
3,378Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Berlin 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Berlin-Boylston | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.