Compare towns
Athol vs Dalton vs Phillipston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).
Phillipston has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Dalton | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
6,256 |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
| Dalton and Phillipston 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% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
17%±5Lowest 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Phillipston 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 33% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA |
| Phillipston and Dalton 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±$26k 47% below MA |
$372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA |
| Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$3,914 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Athol 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% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | 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.