What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the most people working from home (16.9%).

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Templeton	Athol
People
Population	8,252Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA
	Athol and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Templeton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Athol and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,154±$15kHighest about the MA average	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Highest 31% below MA	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA
	Templeton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Highest 24% below MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Lowest MA: 10%	16.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Templeton 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	#244 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Narragansett	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Narragansett Regional High	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.