What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).

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	Providence	Athol
People
Population	191,767Highest	12,011Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S.	41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S.	$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S.
	Athol and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S.	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,418Highest 42% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1953Highest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Providence 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	#36 of 38 in RI	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Classical High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	17.2Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.