Compare towns
Athol vs Union vs Orange
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 people working from home (10.6%).
Union has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Union | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
944Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Athol and Orange 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. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Athol 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Union 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Union School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.