Compare towns
Athol vs Windham vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most renters (27.6% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Royalston has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Windham | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
16,038Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,650±$412 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Windham School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.