Compare towns
Athol vs Fairhaven 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%).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Fairhaven | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
15,903Highest |
10,440Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest 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 |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
| Fairhaven 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 |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon and Athol 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 |
$3,566 40% below MA |
$3,780Highest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest 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% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Fairhaven and Winchendon 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Fairhaven | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | Fairhaven High | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.4 |
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.