Compare towns
Athol vs Florida vs Rowe
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 people working from home (10.6%).
Florida has the highest household income ($87k).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Florida | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
668 |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Florida and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Athol 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% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Florida 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% |
24.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Florida 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 |
$86,875±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
| Florida and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$275,000±$41kHighest 51% below MA |
| Rowe and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Highest 43% below MA |
$1,894 68% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Florida 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Rowe 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 | Florida | Rowe |
| 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.