Compare towns
Athol vs Dorset vs Jericho
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).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Jericho 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.
| Measure | Athol | Dorset | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Athol 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Jericho 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Dorset 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±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Dorset 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. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38k 48% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Jericho 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. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Dorset 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. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$7,318 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Dorset 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% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.