Compare towns
Athol vs Plainville vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Plainville | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,551Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Putnam 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. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Athol and Putnam 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. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Athol High | Plainville High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.