Compare towns
Winchendon vs Athol vs Royalston
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 most people working from home (11.2%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Royalston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Athol | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
12,011Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston and Athol 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% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston 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 |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$346,300±$18kHighest 38% below MA |
| Royalston and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163 29% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Winchendon 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 |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston 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% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Winchendon and Royalston 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 | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | Athol High | None in town |
| 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.