Compare towns
Athol vs Epping vs Athol vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Epping | Athol | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,430 |
8,801 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Petersham 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Epping and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
| Epping and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Athol 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Petersham 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Epping School District | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | Athol High | Epping High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.