Compare towns
Athol vs Peru vs Winchendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k 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.
| Measure | Athol | Peru | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
630Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Winchendon 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 |
$90,750±$18kHighest 13% below MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
| Peru and Winchendon 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 |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
— | $1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon 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 |
$3,805Highest 36% below MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchendon 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.