Compare towns
Phillipston vs Templeton 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).
Templeton has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Templeton | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,895Lowest |
8,252 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Athol 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% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest 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% |
26.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$101,154±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Templeton 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±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
$358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Phillipston and Templeton 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 |
$1,207±$353 31% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Phillipston and Templeton 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 |
$4,554Highest 24% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest 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% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Templeton 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 | — | #244 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Narragansett | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Narragansett Regional High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.