What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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	Brookline	Athol
People
Population	5,736Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S.
	Athol and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#23 of 120 in NH	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline School District	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	None in town	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.