What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Springfield has the most renters (50.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Springfield
People
Population	12,011Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Springfield 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 MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kHighest 52% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
	Athol and Springfield 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	$3,695Highest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Athol and Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Springfield
High school in town	Athol High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.