Athol, MA Homes for Rent

Athol, Massachusetts, is a unique mill town in the Quabbin Valley where manufacturing has persisted into the digital age, anchored by the L. S. Starrett Company, a major employer since 1880. The town retains a rural, old New England charm with its 19th-century farmhouses and industrial-age downtown. Housing options range from aging colonials and New England farmhouses to multifamily homes and lakefront properties, with new construction also underway. Downtown Athol features Italianate, Victorian, and Second Empire architecture, with businesses like Athol House of Pizza and Los Agaves Grill providing local dining options. Residents enjoy nature trails and water activities at Alan E. Rich Environmental Park and Lake Ellis, while the 202 Street Hockey Association offers recreational opportunities. Essential amenities include grocery stores like Market Basket and Hannaford, and Athol Hospital, part of Heywood Healthcare. Athol is accessible via Massachusetts Route 2 and is about 75 miles west of Boston, with Amtrak service available in nearby Greenfield. The Athol-Royalston Regional School District serves local students, though school ratings are average.