Compare towns
Rowe vs Athol vs Monroe 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 homeowners (90.8%).
Athol has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
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 | Monroe | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453 |
12,011Highest |
122Lowest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%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 |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
| Monroe 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% |
16.4%±28Lowest 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%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Rowe 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% MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest 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% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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 |
— | $96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
| Hancock and Rowe 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 |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% 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 |
$2,053 66% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest 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 | — | Hancock |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.