Compare towns
Athol vs Hardwick vs Woonsocket
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%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
2,684Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket 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. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket 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. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Hardwick 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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 15.2Highest |
| 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.