Compare towns
Dighton vs Athol vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has the most expensive homes ($502k median).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Rutland has the most people working from home (16.1%).
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 | Dighton | Athol | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193Lowest |
12,011Highest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9Highest 7% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
41.4±2.5 4% above MA |
| Dighton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Dighton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192Highest 20% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Dighton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452Highest 8% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland and Dighton 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Athol-Royalston | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.