Compare towns
Athol vs Douglas vs Thompson vs Orange
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Douglas | Thompson | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
9,207 |
9,337 |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Douglas 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. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Thompson 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Douglas | Thompson School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Douglas High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
7.2Lowest |
7.9 |
9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.