Compare towns
Athol vs Pelham vs Winchendon
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 the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Pelham | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
14,449Highest |
10,440Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pelham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Winchendon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Winchendon 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 14% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Winchendon 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Winchendon 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Pelham School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | Pelham High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.