Compare towns
Pelham vs Athol vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Williamsburg has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Pelham | Athol | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
12,011Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | Pelham | Athol-Royalston | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| 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.