Compare towns
Winchendon vs Mapleton 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 expensive homes ($324k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.
| Measure | Winchendon | Mapleton | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
1,884Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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 | $3,780Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchendon and Mapleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 | None yet | 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.