Compare towns
Athol vs Everett vs Ludlow vs Phillipston
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
Phillipston has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Everett | Ludlow | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
50,045Highest |
20,904 |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Ludlow 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA |
| Phillipston and Everett 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,375±$849 22% below MA |
| Everett and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,914 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Everett | Ludlow | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Everett High | Ludlow Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.