What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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	Whitingham	Athol
People
Population	1,368Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Whitingham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S.	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Whitingham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S.	$268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S.
	Athol and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S.	$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,055Highest 62% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Athol and Whitingham 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	Twin Valley Unified School District #75	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Twin Valley Middle High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.