Compare towns
Athol vs Union vs Palmer Town
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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Palmer Town has the most renters (28.5% rent).
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 | Palmer Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
944Lowest |
12,381Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.8±5.6 23% above U.S. |
| Union and Palmer Town 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Union 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% |
20.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Palmer Town 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% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest 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±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$78,480±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Union and Palmer Town 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. |
$330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
$271,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,075±$103Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Athol and Palmer Town 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. |
$4,540 46% 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% |
52.9%±10.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #252 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Union School District | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Pathfinder Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.