Compare towns
Montgomery vs Athol vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($358k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Montgomery | Athol | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 796 |
12,011Highest |
487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-12.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
45±12.8 13% above MA |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±8.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Montgomery and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±10.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,000±$19kHighest 18% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$106,806±$37k about the MA average |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,500±$29kHighest 36% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$302,800±$39k 46% below MA |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$825±$556Lowest 53% below MA |
| Athol and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,283 29% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,746Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±80.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.3%±7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Montgomery 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 | — | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.