Compare towns
Athol vs Windsor vs Winchendon
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Windsor has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k 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.
| Measure | Athol | Windsor | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
29,468Highest |
10,440Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor 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% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor 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 14% below U.S. |
$104,725±$8kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Winchendon and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,351Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor and Winchendon 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | Windsor High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.