Compare towns
Athol vs Brooklyn vs Whitman
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).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Brooklyn | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
8,517Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Brooklyn 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% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Whitman 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. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whitman and Brooklyn 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Brooklyn School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| 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.