What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peterborough has the most expensive homes ($405k 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	Peterborough
People
Population	12,011Highest	6,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Peterborough 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.	$98,401±$8kHighest 22% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.	$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average
	Peterborough and Athol 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.	$8,655Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peterborough 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	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Athol-Royalston	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Athol High	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.