Compare towns
Athol vs Webster vs Athol
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 most homeowners (72.4%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Webster | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
12,228Highest |
8,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Athol 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% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$333,100±$14kHighest 41% below MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
| Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Highest 43% below MA |
$3,234 46% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
16%Lowest MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.