Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Thompson
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,573Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Thompson 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
| Athol and Thompson 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. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Thompson 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.0 |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.