Compare towns
Athol vs Corinth vs Walden
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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Corinth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
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 | Corinth | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,539 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.4±9.6 24% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Walden and Corinth 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% |
16.8%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Corinth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden 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±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$89,167±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Corinth and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$213,800±$34kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Athol and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,267±$510Highest 10% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Corinth 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. |
$3,584 15% above U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.9%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Walden 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Corinth and Walden 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 | — | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | 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.