Compare towns
Athol vs Strafford vs Winchendon
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Strafford | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
4,306Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Winchendon 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Winchendon 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. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Winchendon 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Winchendon 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Strafford School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.