Compare towns

Athol vs Ogunquit 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 the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.

MeasureAtholOgunquitOrange
People
Population
12,011Highest
1,379Lowest
7,573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
41.8±2.2
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%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%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit 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.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$55,824±$10kLowest
31% below U.S.
Ogunquit 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±$13k
19% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$245,900±$18kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$182Highest
19% below U.S.
—
$775±$233Lowest
45% below U.S.
Athol and Orange 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.
$4,473Highest
43% 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%±61.1Lowest
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
10.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
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 — Orange · Ralph C Mahar
High school in town Athol High — Ralph C Mahar Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Highest
—
9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.