What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

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	Dalton
People
Population	12,011Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Athol and Dalton 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	$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA
	Dalton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$295,700±$26kHighest 47% below MA
	Dalton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA	$4,276Highest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Dalton 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%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% below MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Athol High	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.