Compare towns

Athol vs Hampton vs Athol

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% 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.

MeasureAtholHamptonAthol
People
Population
12,011Highest
1,647Lowest
8,801
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.9
6% above U.S.
51.5±5.3Highest
32% above U.S.
36.8±3.3Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Athol 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%
26.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Athol 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±$5k
14% below U.S.
$109,167±$19kHighest
35% above U.S.
$67,394±$8kLowest
17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$268,100±$13k
19% below U.S.
$295,800±$27kHighest
11% below U.S.
$248,700±$15kLowest
25% below U.S.
Hampton 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.
$1,285±$288Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,120±$173Lowest
21% below U.S.
Hampton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,403
9% above U.S.
$4,364Highest
40% above U.S.
$3,170Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±51.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.2%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Athol and Athol 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%
5.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
21%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
90%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
27 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1940Lowest
40 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton 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 — #256 of 282 in MA
School district Athol-Royalston Hampton School District —
High school in town Athol High None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6
— —
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.