Compare towns
Winchester vs Athol vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Winchester | Athol | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284Lowest |
12,011 |
12,487Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$79,500±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Athol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 53% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Athol-Royalston | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Athol High | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.6Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.