Compare towns
Phillipston vs Ripton vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phillipston has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,895 |
508Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,692±$14k 17% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Ripton 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 12% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.