What are the schools like in Athol, MA?

Athol is served primarily by Athol-Royalston. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1.

What is the median household income in Athol?

The median household income in Athol, MA is $62,962 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.1%.

What is the weather like in Athol, MA?

Athol has an average high temperature of 33.1°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 52.2 inches.

Athol, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Athol, MA affordable or expensive?

Athol's cost of living index is 100, where 100 represents the national average. This means Athol is 0% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $211,300 and the median rent is $981 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Athol, MA?

Athol has a violent crime rate of 452.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 731.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Athol, MA a Good Place to Live?

Athol is a small town of 9,148 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $62,962 and a 8.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% below the national average.

Strengths: Athol stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Athol is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Athol city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 99.6

Athol's overall cost of living index is 99.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Athol costs roughly 0% less than the average American city.

Metric	Athol, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$211,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$981	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,962	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Athol's violent crime rate is 452.1 per 100,000 residents — 19% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

452.1 /100k

Property Crime

731.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Athol is served primarily by Athol-Royalston. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Athol, MA	National Avg
School District	Athol-Royalston	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Athol sees average highs of 33.1°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 47.4 inches of annual precipitation and 52.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Athol, MA
Average High — January	33.1°F
Average High — July	85.1°F
Annual Precipitation	47.4"
Annual Snowfall	52.2"

Demographics

Metric	Athol, MA	National Avg
Population	9,148	—
Median Age	38.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	23.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Orange, MA 3 mi Petersham, MA 7 mi Baldwinville, MA 8 mi Winchendon, MA 11 mi Gardner, MA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Athol

Athol, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01331

Athol vs Other Cities

Athol, MA vs Orange, MA Athol, MA vs Petersham, MA Athol, MA vs Baldwinville, MA Athol, MA vs Winchendon, MA Athol, MA vs Gardner, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athol, MA affordable or expensive?

Athol's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That makes Athol roughly 0% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $211,300 and median rent is $981/month.

What is the crime rate in Athol, MA?

Athol's violent crime rate is 452.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 731.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Athol?

Public schools in Athol are operated by Athol-Royalston. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Athol, MA a good place to live?

Athol, MA has a population of 9,148, a median household income of $62,962, and an unemployment rate of 8.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Athol?

Athol averages 33.1°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.4 inches with about 52.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Athol?

Athol, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01331.

What is the population of Athol?

The population of Athol, Massachusetts is 9,148 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Athol?

Key numbers for living in Athol: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $211,300, median household income $62,962, crime index 85 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Athol side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.