United States › Massachusetts › Athol CITY
Athol Massachusetts · 8,801 residents · 8.19 sq mi
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The short version
Athol is home to 8,801 people in Massachusetts. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. That trails the Massachusetts median by roughly 35%. The foreign-born share is 3%. The poverty rate is 21.0%, above the 12.5% national rate. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $248,700.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth 1,075 / sq mi
+5%since 2009
from 1,025 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K 8K 8K 9K 9K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Athol Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $67,394
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,630 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,062 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.412 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 4.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.4%
Education & health services 0.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
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$248,700
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,120
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $466 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 64.1% in 2000
36.3% rent
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 41.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 58.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 94.8%(7,932)
Hispanic / Latino 2.2%(183)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 82.7%(7,276)
Hispanic / Latino 8.1%(714)
from 20 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 80.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 81.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 70.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 21.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 6.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 81.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 94.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 38.7%(1,288)
Women 15+
Never married 40.2%(1,426)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 6.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 8.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 34.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 60.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 11.9%(49)
Share of the 412 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Athol, Massachusetts? Athol, Massachusetts has about 8,801 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Athol, Massachusetts? The typical household in Athol, Massachusetts earns about $67,394 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Athol, Massachusetts expensive? In Athol, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $248,700, and the typical rent is about $1,120 a month.
How educated are people in Athol, Massachusetts? About 21.9% of adults age 25 and over in Athol, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Athol, Massachusetts? About 21.0% of people in Athol, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has Athol, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, Athol, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 69 residents, a change of about 1 percent over that period.
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