Compare towns
Quinebaug vs Athol vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k 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 | Quinebaug | Athol | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,193 |
12,011Highest |
944Lowest |
| 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. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Athol 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. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Union 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±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,703 19% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Athol 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | Union School District |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.