Compare towns
Windham vs Athol vs Brookline vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Athol has the most renters (27.6% rent).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Windham | Athol | Brookline | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
12,011Highest |
531Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Brookline 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.