Compare towns

Winchendon vs Brooklyn vs Athol

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchendon has the most people working from home (11.2%).
Brooklyn has the highest household income ($96k).
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.

MeasureWinchendonBrooklynAthol
People
Population
10,440
8,517Lowest
12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.6±1.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
41.3±1.9
6% above U.S.
Brooklyn 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
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Athol and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn 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
6% below U.S.
$96,207±$15kHighest
19% above U.S.
$69,316±$5kLowest
14% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,800±$19kHighest
about the U.S. average
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$268,100±$13kLowest
19% below U.S.
Winchendon and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,255±$163Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,150±$182
19% below U.S.
Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,780
21% above U.S.
$4,538Highest
45% above U.S.
$3,403Lowest
9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±17.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.2%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Winchendon and Brooklyn 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 #113 of 149 in CT #256 of 282 in MA
School district Winchendon Brooklyn School District 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 History 6 photos → 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.