Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Troy
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Troy has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,573 |
2,005Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$266,600±$39k 20% below U.S. |
| Athol and Troy 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. |
$1,024±$331 28% below U.S. |
| Athol and Troy 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. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$5,229Highest 68% 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% |
43.1%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Troy 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Troy 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 | Monadnock Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.