Compare towns
Athol vs Townshend vs Phillipston
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 most kids (21.8% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Phillipston has the most expensive homes ($372k 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 | Townshend | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,538Lowest |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7 25% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Phillipston and Athol 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. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$94,692±$14kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$372,400±$27kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average |
| Phillipston and Athol 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. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston and Townshend 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
8.1Lowest |
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| 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.