What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Lancaster
People
Population	12,011Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Lancaster 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 U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Lancaster 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%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Athol and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Athol and Lancaster 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.	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Athol-Royalston	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	Athol High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.