Compare towns
Winchendon vs Nottingham 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
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Nottingham | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
5,357Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9 about the U.S. average |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Athol and Winchendon 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% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Nottingham 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% |
40.9%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% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nottingham 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. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
$457,500±$26kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Nottingham 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. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #269 of 282 in MA | #15 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Nottingham 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.