Compare towns
Orange vs Athol vs Erving
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
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 | Orange | Athol | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
12,011Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Erving and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$77,656±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
| Erving and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$271,800±$20kHighest 52% below MA |
| Erving and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
| Erving and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Highest 31% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Orange 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Athol-Royalston | Erving |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.