What stands out worked out from the figures below

Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Quinebaug	Athol
People
Population	1,193Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Quinebaug and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S.	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Quinebaug and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S.	$268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S.
	Athol and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,150±$182 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,703Highest 19% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Quinebaug 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

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.