Compare towns
Heath vs Athol vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Heath | Athol | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
8,801Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$305,500±$52kHighest 46% below MA |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,120±$173Highest 36% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Athol and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Charlemont 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 | — | — | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.