Compare towns
Athol vs Erving vs Winchendon
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%).
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k 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 | Erving | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,703Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Erving and Athol 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%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Athol 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Winchendon 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 |
$77,656±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
| Erving and Winchendon 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 |
$323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon 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 |
$3,780Highest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Athol 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% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% 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 |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchendon 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Erving | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.