What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

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	Sheldon	Athol
People
Population	2,267Lowest	8,801Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.5Highest 5% above U.S.	36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	15%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Athol and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average	$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S.	$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,578Highest 15% above U.S.	$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	21%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheldon 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	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.