Compare towns
Lee vs Athol vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Lee | Athol | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
12,011Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
— |
| Lee and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980 34% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Washington 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.