Compare towns
Athol vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Winchendon has the most homeowners (76.6%).
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 | Hardwick | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,684Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Winchendon 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 |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$75,690±$14kHighest 27% below MA |
| Winchendon and Hardwick 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 |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
| Hardwick and Winchendon 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 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 |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchendon 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.