What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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	Westminster
People
Population	12,011Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster 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 U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster 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±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.	$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Westminster 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 19% below U.S.	$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Westminster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
	Athol and Westminster 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.	$4,063Highest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#256 of 282 in MA	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Athol-Royalston	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Athol High	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.