Compare towns
Wrentham vs Athol vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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.
| Measure | Wrentham | Athol | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297 |
12,011Lowest |
14,027Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
46.5±3.9 16% above MA |
| Wrentham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Kingston and Wrentham 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% |
48.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±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 |
$119,876±$13k 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$610,600±$30k 9% above MA |
| Wrentham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628Highest 33% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,159±$244 34% below MA |
| Wrentham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373 23% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,650Highest 28% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
35.9%±13Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham and Kingston 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #99 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Athol-Royalston | Kingston · Silver Lake |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | Athol High | Silver Lake Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.