What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newfane	Athol
People
Population	1,456Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S.	$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S.
	Athol and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S.	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Newfane and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Newfane and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,174Highest 66% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±79.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	West River Valley Union Education District #72A	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	None in town	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.