What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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	Milton
People
Population	12,011Highest	4,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	45.7±2.4Highest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Athol and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	21.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.	$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Milton 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 19% below U.S.	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S.
	Milton 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.	$5,663Highest 82% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Milton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Milton 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	#116 of 120 in NH
School district	Athol-Royalston	Milton School District
High school in town	Athol High	Nute High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.