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CITY

Athol

Massachusetts · 8,801 residents · 8.187 sq mi
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The short version

Athol has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,394. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $248,700. The poverty rate of 21.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 35% less than the Massachusetts median.

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

Total population
8,801
+5%since 2000
from 8,370 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
1,075 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 1,022 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.8
−1%since 2000
from 37.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K8K9K9K1990201020202024Athol
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,394
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,630 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,977
+80%since 2000
from $16,062 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.0%
+21.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.0%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
+4%since 2010
from 0.412 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information19.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade13.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$248,700
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,120
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $466 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
36.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.6%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.6%
−10.8 ptssince 2009
from 41.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
56.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 58.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+38%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Athol on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.8%(7,932)
Black0.7%(62)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(183)
Asian0.4%(35)
Other0%
Diversity Score8.3%(695)
2024
White, non-Hispanic82.7%(7,276)
Black3.1%(273)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(714)
Asian0.4%(35)
Other5.7%(503)
Diversity Score38.2%(3,363)
Diversity Score
38
+360%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.9%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.3 min
+39%since 2000
from 18.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.1%
−11.5 ptssince 2009
from 81.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.7%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.6%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.6%
−6.9 ptssince 2011
from 15.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 65.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.7%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.3%
−31.7 ptssince 2009
from 63.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 21.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.8%
−90.5 ptssince 2013
from 93.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.3%
+21.0 ptssince 2017
from 72.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 94.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 4.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Athol to nearby cities

ATHOL VS
Gardner
Income$67,518same
Home value$301,600+21%
Population21,483+144%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ATHOL VS
Greenfield
Income$55,614−17%
Home value$263,100+6%
Population17,691+101%
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ATHOL VS
Fitchburg
Income$73,040+8%
Home value$336,400+35%
Population42,136+379%
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ATHOL VS
Amherst
Income$66,968−1%
Home value$484,900+95%
Population40,920+365%
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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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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