Compare towns
Coventry vs Athol vs Orange vs Sheffield
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%).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Coventry | Athol | Orange | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
12,011Highest |
957 |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.2 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
42±8 8% above U.S. |
| Orange and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Coventry and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,342±$3k 26% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,900±$55k 41% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $755±$108Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$967±$79 32% below U.S. |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,375 24% below U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
$3,545Highest 14% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 1.5%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange 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 | — | — |
| School district | Coventry School District | Athol-Royalston | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.