Compare towns
Athol vs Wendell vs Winchendon
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).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k 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 | Wendell | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
850Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest 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% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Winchendon 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 33% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$75,690±$14kHighest 27% below MA |
| Winchendon 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±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA |
| Winchendon and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon and Wendell 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 |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
18.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 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 |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and Winchendon 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | New Salem-Wendell | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.