Compare towns
Athol vs Griswold vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most people working from home (10.6%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Griswold | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
11,530 |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Orange 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 14% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Griswold 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±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Griswold 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 19% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,628Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Griswold 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Griswold School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Griswold High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.5 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.