Compare towns
Phillipston vs Leyden vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Leyden | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,895 |
637Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Leyden and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest 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%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 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±$14k 9% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Leyden and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Leyden and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$849 22% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Leyden 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 |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100Lowest 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% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Leyden 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 | — | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school 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.