What stands out worked out from the figures below

Phillipston has the most expensive homes ($372k median).

Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).

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	Phillipston	Athol
People
Population	1,895Lowest	8,801Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA	36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA
Kids under 18	17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA	$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA	$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA	$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA
	Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Highest 35% below MA	$3,170Lowest 47% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	59.2%±17.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%	21%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 10% below MA
Work from home	9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Athol and Phillipston 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
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.