Compare towns
Winchendon vs Ashburnham vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Winchendon | Ashburnham | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
6,415Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
| Athol and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163 29% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780 37% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Winchendon 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Ashburnham-Westminster | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.