What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).

Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Winchester
People
Population	12,011Lowest	23,406Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA	42.5±1.9Highest 6% above MA
	Winchester and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	18%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Winchester 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%	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Winchester 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 33% below MA	$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA	$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%	39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#256 of 282 in MA	#11 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Winchester
High school in town	Athol High	Winchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.