Compare towns
Athol vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
3,216Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% 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. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
| Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% 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. |
$4,136 33% 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% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Orange 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | White Mountains Regional School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.