Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
7,573Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$70,102±$2kHighest 33% below MA |
| Worcester and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Worcester 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%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.0Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.