What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Worcester	Athol
People
Population	207,055Highest	12,011Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kHighest 33% below MA	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
	Worcester and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Highest 21% below MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	16.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	27 minHighest 8% below MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	South High Community	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.