Compare towns
Athol vs Clinton vs Webster
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).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Clinton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Lowest |
15,563 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Webster 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster 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 |
$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$387,300±$19kHighest 31% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,654Highest 22% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Webster 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% |
8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton and Athol 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Clinton | Webster |
| High school in town | Athol High | Clinton Senior High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.