Compare towns
Athol vs Hampton vs Hampton 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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Hampton has the highest household income ($97k).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Hampton | Hampton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
10,101 |
16,426Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Hampton 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. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton 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. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton 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. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton 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. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Winnacunnet High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.1 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.