Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Unity vs Petersham
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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Unity | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,573 |
1,375 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7 45% above U.S. |
| Unity and Petersham 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Petersham 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% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 14% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.