Compare towns
Athol vs Warren vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Warren | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
5,009 |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell and Athol 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%±8 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell 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 MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell 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±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% 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 |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Warren and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell and Athol 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 |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
9%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quaboag Regional | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | Athol High | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.