Compare towns
Winchendon vs Leyden 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).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
Athol has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Leyden | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
637Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 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±$14k 27% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163 29% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780 37% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 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% |
10.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchendon and Leyden 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 History | 6 photos → | 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.