Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Orange | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,573 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham 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 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Athol 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 |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Petersham |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.