Compare towns
Athol vs Lynn vs Springfield vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most people working from home (10.6%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Lynn | Springfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
101,709 |
154,749Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$75,043±$3kHighest 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% 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±$13k 52% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
22.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Springfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Lynn | Springfield | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Lynn English High | Springfield Central High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
15.0Highest |
12.2 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.