Compare towns
Franklin vs Athol vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Athol has the most renters (27.6% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Franklin | Athol | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
12,011Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Athol and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Athol and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934 26% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Athol-Royalston | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.