Compare towns
Warren vs Windsor Locks 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 expensive homes ($334k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Windsor Locks | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
12,579Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Athol 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. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Athol 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Windsor Locks School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Windsor Locks High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
8.9Lowest |
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.