Compare towns
Athol vs Colebrook vs Hampton vs Winchendon
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).
Colebrook has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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.
| Measure | Athol | Colebrook | Hampton | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,494Lowest |
1,647 |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Colebrook and Hampton 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Colebrook 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% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Winchendon 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. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton 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. |
$342,800±$19kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Colebrook and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton 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. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Winchendon 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 | — | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Colebrook School District | Hampton School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.