Compare towns
Athol vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Middlesex | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,943Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | 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.