What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the most expensive homes ($295k median).

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pittsfield	Athol
People
Population	4,105Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±5.1Highest 7% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Pittsfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Athol and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pittsfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,318±$14kHighest 8% below U.S.	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Pittsfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$30kHighest 11% below U.S.	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Pittsfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,239±$182Highest 12% below U.S.	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Pittsfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,694Highest 83% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pittsfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pittsfield 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	#93 of 120 in NH	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Pittsfield School District	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Pittsfield High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.