What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Oxford
People
Population	12,011Lowest	13,385Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA	42±2.8Highest 5% above MA
	Oxford and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	29.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oxford 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±$5kLowest 33% below MA	$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$374,900±$18kHighest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA	$1,177±$142Highest 33% below MA
	Oxford 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	$4,622Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest MA: 10%	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	28 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Oxford 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	#245 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Oxford
High school in town	Athol High	Oxford High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.