Compare towns
Athol vs Middlesex vs Orange vs Petersham
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).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,943 |
7,573 |
1,185Lowest |
| 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% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% |
42.6% 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% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Petersham 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex 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. |
$4,636 49% 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% |
20%±100 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% |
8.8% 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% |
94.2% 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. |
1962 18 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 min 24% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% 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% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Petersham 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Petersham |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.