Compare towns
Winchendon vs Union 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).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Union | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
2,663Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
34.4%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% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Union 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 |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Union 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. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Winchendon 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 40/MSAD 40 | 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.