Compare towns
Winchendon vs Madison 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%).
Madison has the highest household income ($103k).
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.
| Measure | Winchendon | Madison | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
2,680Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Madison and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 6% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Madison and Winchendon 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. |
$4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Madison 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 → | 7 photos → | 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.