Compare towns
Athol vs Woonsocket vs Athol
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 homeowners (72.4%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Woonsocket | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
43,521Highest |
8,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
36.8±3.3 5% below U.S. |
| Athol 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$67,394±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Athol 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. |
$311,000±$15kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$3,960Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Woonsocket High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| 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.