Compare towns
Athol vs Petersham vs Orange
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%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Petersham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,185Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham 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±$5k 33% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Petersham 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 |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Petersham | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.