Compare towns
Rowe vs Athol vs Florida vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Athol has the most renters (27.6% rent).
Florida has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($376k 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 | Rowe | Athol | Florida | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453Lowest |
12,011Highest |
668 |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
| Florida and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
| Hancock and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,268±$415 28% below MA |
| Rowe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458 76% below MA |
$3,403Highest 43% below MA |
$1,894 68% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Hancock 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 | Rowe | Athol-Royalston | Florida | Hancock |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.