What is the cost of living in Athol, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Athol has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Athol has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Athol ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Athol ranks as the #112 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Athol, check out:
Athol Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Athol. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Athol is 108.
The Groceries index in Athol is 111.
The Health index in Athol is 90.
The Housing index in Athol is 112.
The Transportation index in Athol is 117.
The Utilities index in Athol is 109.
| Living Expense | Athol | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 90 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 114 | 100 |
Athol Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Athol, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Athol is $331,866.
The Median Rent in Athol is $1,120.
The Median Income in Athol is $67,394.
The Home Value To Income in Athol is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Athol is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Athol | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $331,866 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,120 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $67,394 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Athol, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Athol Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Athol | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.58 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.97 | $45.56 |
Detailed Athol Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Athol | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Athol Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Athol | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Athol Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Athol | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Athol Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Athol | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.72 | $192.25 |
Athol SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Athol
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Athol. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Gardner, MA has a cost of living index of 109, 1.1x Athol.
Longmeadow, MA has a cost of living index of 136, 1.3x Athol.
Southwood Acres, CT has a cost of living index of 119, 1.2x Athol.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner, MA | 21,148 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Longmeadow, MA | 15,696 | 136 | 1.3x |
| Southwood Acres, CT | 8,115 | 119 | 1.2x |
| Cochituate, MA | 6,471 | 192 | 1.9x |
| Northborough, MA | 6,392 | 140 | 1.4x |
| Hazardville, CT | 6,022 | 112 | 1.1x |
| West Concord, MA | 5,876 | 180 | 1.8x |
| Sherwood Manor, CT | 5,706 | 119 | 1.2x |
