Compare towns
Athol vs Webster vs Woonsocket 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%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Webster | Woonsocket | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,748 |
43,521Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Woonsocket 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. |
$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Webster 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 19% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Webster and Woonsocket 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. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Woonsocket 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% |
12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Webster 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Webster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Bartlett High School | Woonsocket High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.6 |
15.2Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.