Compare towns
Athol vs Plainfield vs Warren
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
616Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
| Warren and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.