Compare towns
Athol vs Putney vs Athol
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Putney | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,622Lowest |
8,801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Athol and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Putney and Athol 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.