What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Warren
People
Population	12,011Highest	5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA	38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA
	Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Warren 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 MA: 47.3%	23.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA	$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA
	Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA	$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA
	Athol and Warren 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	$4,530Highest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%	29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest MA: 10%	9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Athol and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Quaboag Regional
High school in town	Athol High	Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.