Compare towns
Phillipston vs Gardner 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 highest household income ($95k).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% 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.
| Measure | Phillipston | Gardner | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,895Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner 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% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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±$14kHighest 9% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% 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 | $3,914 35% below MA |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Athol 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gardner | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.