Compare towns
Phillipston vs Sandisfield 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).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Sandisfield | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,895 |
994Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
49.9±7.5Highest 25% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Sandisfield 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% |
14%±2.9Lowest 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%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% MA: 47.3% |
26%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sandisfield 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 |
$91,111±$23k 12% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Phillipston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
$360,300±$34k 36% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Phillipston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA |
$1,250±$220 29% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Phillipston and Sandisfield 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 |
$3,328Lowest 44% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% MA: 62.5% |
96.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sandisfield 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.