Compare towns
Warren vs Plainfield vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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.
| Measure | Warren | Plainfield | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009 |
1,314Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Athol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Warren and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 45% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | — | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.