What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	12,011Highest	11,663Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA	42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA
	Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Pepperell 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%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell 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	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA
	Pepperell 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	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Pepperell 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%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#256 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	North Middlesex
High school in town	Athol High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.