Town · Massachusetts
Athol, Massachusetts
Athol, town, in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Athol had 12,129 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 11,945 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,011 (±63). GEOID 2502702480.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,129
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,945 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,011 ±63
Median household income
$69,316
±$4,650 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$268,100
±$13,496 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,150
±$182 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Athol and what county is it in?
Athol is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It covers 32.3 square miles of land, 370 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Athol: Athol (CDP, 8,486 in 2020).
Athol is in the Worcester, MA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Athol, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 12,129 people lived in Athol on July 1, 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, in line with Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 11,945 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,011 (±63).
| Measure | Athol | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,011±63 | 867,788 | +298 |
| Households | 4,704±324 | 335,826 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.52±0.17 | 2.50 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,135±364 | 355,185 | no clear change |
Athol's population since 2000
From 11,299 in 2000 to 12,129 in 2025: up 7.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Athol as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Athol?
The median resident of Athol is 41.3 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 19.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.0%. 3.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Athol | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 | 40.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.8%±3.1 pts | 20.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.3%±2.7 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Male | 50.0%±2.4 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.0%±3.1 pts | 13.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.8%±4.8 pts | 70.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.5%±2.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.9%±3.0 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.9%±1.5 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.8%±2.1 pts | 22.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.6%±1.5 pts | 5.0% | – |
| With a disability | 20.3%±2.7 pts | 13.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.5%±1.1 pts | 2.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.7%±3.5 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.4%±3.3 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.9%±1.7 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.8%±4.8 pts | 88.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.1%±4.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Athol earn?
Half of Athol's 4,704 households earn less than $69,316 a year (±$4,650), against $95,939 in Worcester County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $66,632 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Athol | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,316±$4,650 | $95,939 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $83,538±$7,053 | $124,653 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,900±$2,467 | $48,914 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.3%±4.7 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 24.9%±10.9 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 27.2%±5.0 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.9%±2.2 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.2%±2.1 pts | 92.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Athol?
Owners occupy 72.4% of Athol's occupied homes and renters 27.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $268,100 by its owner (±$13,496). The median renter pays $1,150 a month including utilities, and 50.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Athol | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $268,100±$13,496 | $423,700 | +$75,250 |
| Median gross rent | $1,150±$182 | $1,426 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.9%±13.0 pts | 40.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,679±$75 | $2,387 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.4%±4.1 pts | 65.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 27.6%±4.1 pts | 34.2% | – |
| Housing units | 5,135±364 | 355,185 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.9%±6.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.8%±4.0 pts | 56.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5%±1.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.1%±1.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.4%±1.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 39.0%±4.0 pts | 27.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.9%±4.0 pts | 8.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Athol building?
Builders took permits for 58 new housing units in Athol in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 4.8 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Athol work and get to work?
71.4% of Athol's workers drive alone and 10.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.0%.
| Measure | Athol | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.8%±3.7 pts | 66.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0%±2.7 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.4%±5.6 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.5%±3.1 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.1%±1.4 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Walked | 4.9%±3.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.6%±3.5 pts | 15.6% | +7.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.8 min±2.0 | 29.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Athol?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Athol (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $64,413 (Tract 7031) to $82,589 (Tract 7033).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7031Worcester County | 4,780 | $64,413 |
| Tract 7033Worcester County | 3,624 | $82,589 |
| Tract 7032Worcester County | 3,607 | $77,083 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Athol) · Census block assignment files
How does Athol compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Athol is the 1,027th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 83rd-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Athol ranks 416th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 83rd | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 141st | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 345th | 461 |
| Median household income | 416th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 445th | 460 |
| Median home value | 444th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 337th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 23rd | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 445th | 459 |
| Median age | 361st | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 319th | 460 |
| Work from home | 365th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 318th | 459 |
Athol's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Athol with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Athol?
12 of the 57 figures for Athol on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Athol are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.