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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | 12,011Highest |
3,554Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% 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% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winchendon 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±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Winchendon 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±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 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 |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchendon and Athol 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.