Compare towns
Phillipston vs Douglas vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phillipston has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Phillipston | Douglas | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,895Lowest |
9,207 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$849 22% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Douglas and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 35% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 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% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Douglas | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
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.