What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k median).

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	Winchendon	Athol
People
Population	10,440Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA
	Athol and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.9 MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,690±$14kHighest 27% below MA	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
	Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA
	Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,780Highest 37% below MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Winchendon and Athol 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%	16.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Winchendon	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Murdock High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.6Highest
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.