Compare towns
Unity vs Athol vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.
| Measure | Unity | Athol | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
12,011Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | Unity School District | Athol-Royalston | Washington School District |
| 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 |
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.