What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Central Falls
People
Population	12,011Lowest	22,701Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S.	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Central Falls and Athol 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%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls 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±$5kHighest 14% below U.S.	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.	$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S.
	Central Falls 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.	$3,744Highest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.7%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#256 of 282 in MA	#38 of 38 in RI
School district	Athol-Royalston	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town	Athol High	Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.