What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).

Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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	Lynn
People
Population	12,011Lowest	101,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA	36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lynn and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA	$75,043±$3kHighest 28% below MA
	Lynn 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 52% below MA	$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA	$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA	$5,384Highest 10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lynn and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest MA: 10%	13.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	32 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Athol and Lynn 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	#277 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Lynn
High school in town	Athol High	Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	15.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.