What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	North Brookfield
People
Population	12,011Highest	4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA
	North Brookfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and North Brookfield 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%	26.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Brookfield 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±$5kLowest 33% below MA	$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA
	North Brookfield 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 52% below MA	$359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
	Athol and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA	$4,176Highest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest MA: 10%	12.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953 11 yrs older than MA	1953 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	North Brookfield
High school in town	Athol High	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.