United States › Massachusetts › Athol CITY · 2020 ACS
Athol Massachusetts · 8,486 residents · 8.19 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Athol is home to 8,486 people in Massachusetts. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. That trails the Massachusetts median by roughly 35%. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $165,100. The foreign-born share is 6%. The average commute runs 33 minutes.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 30%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 37.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K 8K 8K 9K 9K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Athol Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $54,500
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,630 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,062 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.4%
Public administration 3.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
Education & health services 0.6%
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$165,100
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$809
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $466 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 64.1% in 2000
36.7% rent
2.53 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 94.8%(7,932)
Hispanic / Latino 2.2%(183)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 86.7%(7,359)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 80.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 65.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 6.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 31.5%(176)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.1%(118)
Share of the 559 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
Places similar to Athol Head to head
Compare Athol to nearby cities ATHOL VS
Gardner
Income $67,518 +24%
Home value $301,600 +83%
Population 21,483 +144%
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ATHOL VS
Greenfield
Income $55,614 +2%
Home value $263,100 +59%
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ATHOL VS
Fitchburg
Income $73,040 +34%
Home value $336,400 +104%
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ATHOL VS
Amherst
Income $66,968 +23%
Home value $484,900 +194%
Population 40,920 +365%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Athol, Massachusetts? Athol, Massachusetts has about 8,486 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Athol, Massachusetts? The typical household in Athol, Massachusetts earns about $54,500 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 $165,100, and the typical rent is about $809 a month.
How educated are people in Athol, Massachusetts? About 18.8% 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 14.6% of people in Athol, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has Athol, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, Athol, Massachusetts has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 246 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.
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