Compare towns
Athol vs Erving vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Erving has the highest household income ($78k).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Erving | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,703 |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell and Erving 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% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Erving 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% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell and Erving 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell 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 33% below MA |
$77,656±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Erving and Athol 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 |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$290,300±$31kHighest 48% below MA |
| Wendell and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | — | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Erving | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.