Compare towns
Danielson vs Athol vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Danielson | Athol | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,209Lowest |
12,011Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Danielson and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.