Compare towns
Athol vs Sutton vs Worcester vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Sutton | Worcester | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
9,452 |
207,055Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Worcester and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Sutton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Sutton High School | South High Community | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.6 |
14.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.