Compare towns
Athol vs Needham vs Winchendon
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Needham | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
32,459Highest |
10,440Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Needham 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Winchendon 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 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.