Compare towns
Athol vs Smithfield 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
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Smithfield | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
22,233Highest |
8,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% 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% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 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 |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Smithfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.