Compare towns
Athol vs Lancaster vs Phillipston
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 most affordable homes ($216k median).
Phillipston has the most expensive homes ($372k 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.
| Measure | Athol | Lancaster | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
3,216 |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Lancaster 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%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±5Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Phillipston 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$94,692±$14kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$372,400±$27kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average |
| Phillipston 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. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | 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.