Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Townsend
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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,573Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.0Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.