What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).

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	Wrentham	Athol
People
Population	12,297Highest	12,011Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wrentham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wrentham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,184±$628Highest 33% below MA	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA
	Wrentham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,373Highest 23% above MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest MA: 10%	16.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#49 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	King Philip · Wrentham	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	King Philip Regional High	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	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.