What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Athol has the most people working from home (10.6%).

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	Webster	Athol
People
Population	17,748Highest	12,011Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA
	Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
	Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA
	Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Highest 33% below MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Lowest MA: 10%	16.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Athol and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Webster	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	11.6
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.