Compare towns
Athol vs Whitman 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).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Winchendon has the most homeowners (76.6%).
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 | Whitman | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
15,295Highest |
10,440Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Athol and Whitman 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Winchendon 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% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman 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±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchendon and Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Whitman-Hanson | 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.