Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Springfield
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 oldest population (median age 41.8).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
7,573Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Orange 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% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kHighest 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
| Athol and Springfield 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 |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Springfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Springfield |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.0Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.