What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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	Whitingham
People
Population	12,011Highest	1,368Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Whitingham 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 U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Whitingham 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%	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Whitingham 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.	$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Whitingham 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±$13kHighest 19% below U.S.	$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S.
	Athol and Whitingham 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.	$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.	$5,055Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham and Athol 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%	15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Athol and Whitingham 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	—
School district	Athol-Royalston	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	Athol High	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	7.8Lowest
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.