What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).

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	Thompson
People
Population	12,011Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%	21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Thompson 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.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.	$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S.
	Thompson 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.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Athol and Thompson 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.	$3,822Highest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Athol-Royalston	Thompson School District
High school in town	Athol High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.