Compare towns
Athol vs Dedham vs Palmer Town
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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Palmer Town has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Dedham | Palmer Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Lowest |
25,237Highest |
12,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.8±5.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Palmer Town and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Palmer Town 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$78,480±$8k 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$271,400±$21k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,075±$103Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,540 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±10.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest 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 |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #252 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Pathfinder Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.