Compare towns
Otis vs Athol vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Tolland has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Otis | Athol | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
12,011Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51±3.2 28% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
51.7±7.2Highest 29% above MA |
| Tolland and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±5.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$106,250±$10k about the MA average |
| Otis and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$355,700±$22k 37% below MA |
| Otis and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
— |
| Otis and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$3,403Highest 43% below MA |
$2,714 55% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Tolland 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 | Farmington River Reg | 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 | 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.