$352,543Average Value$238Average Price per Sq Ft26Homes For Sale
Starrett Tools is the largest employer in Athol, MA.
Still making things in Massachusetts
Athol is the rare mill town where manufacturing persevered into the digital age. This hilly, rustic village in the Quabbin Valley of Massachusetts is home to precision tool maker L. S. Starrett Company, which started operations at its massive brick mill on the Millers River in 1880. Starrett’s perseverance is a source of pride for Athol. “That’s the world headquarters of Starrett,” says Keith McGuirk, a now-retired Realtor and Athol native who sold houses in the area for 25 years. “They don’t employ as many people as they used to, but they’re still the town’s largest employer.” The town maintains a rural, old New England feel with its 19th-century farmhouses, industrial-age downtown, ample acreage and streetscapes lined with leafy deciduous trees.
Queen Anne style homes are available in Athol.
Aging colonials and New England farmhouses
Houses in Athol came online in the 19th- and 20th centuries, but new construction is underway. Rustic wooden houses built in the late 1900s show their age, with fading wooden porches and red siding that lost its brightness. Multifamily homes with shuttered windows, farmhouses on several acres, lakefront properties and early 20th-century colonials on sloped streets near downtown are typical. Home prices range between $132,000 and $585,500. The average home value is $290,487.
Athol was officially incorporated in 1762.
Turn-of-the-century downtown Athol
Downtown Athol came online around the same time Starrett began operations. The Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad provided direct service between Athol and Boston. Downtown features Italianate, Victorian and Second Empire structures built around the turn of the 20th century. Today, accounting offices, insurance businesses and pizzerias use the first floors of these century-old brick buildings. Athol House of Pizza Restaurant makes pies with homemade dough and sauce daily. After work, people head to the bar at Los Agaves Grill and order fajitas and margaritas. And in a nondescript brown building with two blinking Bud Light signs is Olde Tyme New England Seafood Company, a low-key eatery known for its large portion sizes of clam strips and fried shrimp. Neighbors catch the latest releases in town at Athol Cinemas 8.
The Athol-Royalston school to career pipeline
Kids in Athol can attend public school through the Athol-Royalston Regional School District, which serves about 1,700 students. The district has four schools. Children in Athol can attend Athol Community Elementary School, rated C by Niche. They then move to Athol-Royalston Middle School, which scores a C-minus, and Athol High School, which earns a C. Athol students can participate in Innovation Career Pathways, where kids can take post-secondary courses to gain industry credentials for free in fields like manufacturing and health care.
Athol is 70 miles west of Boston.
Nature and street hockey in North Central Mass
North Central Massachusetts is known for its hills, forests spanning thousands of acres and wide-open vistas, prime for viewing fall foliage. In Athol, neighbors stroll along a nature trail and launch their canoes into the river at Alan E. Rich Environmental Park, a conservation area in the center of town. Boaters and fishermen also use the 88-acre Lake Ellis, which has a sandy beach staffed by town lifeguards in the summertime. Neighbors come together to play hockey at the 202 Street Hockey Association. Hockey is huge in Massachusetts. People love the Boston Bruins, and nearby Worcester has the Worcester Railers, a minor league team.
Athol House of Pizza serves gourmet pizza.
All the essentials and Athol Hospital
Grocery chains Market Basket and Hannaford have locations in Athol. Walmart Supercenter is in Orange, about 4 miles west of the center of town. People buy clothing at Marshalls, dog and cat food at Pet Supplies Plus and miscellaneous goods at Hobby Lobby. Quick-service chains like Taco Bell, Dunkin and Starbucks are next to Hobby Lobby, in a retail plaza McGuirk says was built in the 2010s. “The state moves westward due to increasing real estate values primarily, but people can find much better deals out here,” he says. “With that higher population and increase in commuters, there was an impetus for retailers to open here. That customer base didn’t exist 20-30 years ago.” Athol also has its own hospital, Athol Hospital, part of Gardner-based Heywood Healthcare.
Road and train access to New England
Athol sits along Massachusetts Route 2, a major east-west thoroughfare that goes west to Williamstown and east to Cambridge. The town sits about 10 miles south of the New Hampshire border, 44 miles north of Springfield and 75 miles west of Boston. Amtrak service is available in Greenfield, about 26 miles west, and the route runs south through Springfield and ends in New Haven, Connecticut.
Written By
Tina Davis
Photography Contributed By
Perez Folds
Video By
Brandon Flash Craigie
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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On average, homes in Athol, MA sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Athol, MA over the last 12 months is $330,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This stunning Colonial sits on nearly an acre of land and borders the Millers River, with Fish Park and its tennis and basketball courts located just across the street. Offering 5+ bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, this home provides flexibility with the option of a first-floor bedroom. Enjoy high ceilings throughout and a beautifully updated kitchen featuring new white cabinets, quartz countertops,
Back on market! Tenants have completely vacated. Motivated seller! Spacious two family duplex ready for immediate occupancy. Located near Silver Lake Beach and the town park. Laundry hook ups in both units. Walk up attic with lots of storage. Spacious bathrooms as well as each unit having its own basement with outdoor access.
This lot is a RARE FIND just off of Rt 202 tucked away on quiet side street next to Millers River. Offering over an acre and half of mostly cleared land with electric and water at the street. Beautiful spot to build your dream home.
PRICE IMPROVEMENT - Rare opportunity to build your dream home on this beautiful 15.6 acre lot, perfectly set in a peaceful FIELD setting. Perk testing is complete, and zoning allows for either a single-family home or a duplex making this an excellent opportunity for multi-generational living. With plenty of open space, it could also be ideal for a horse property or small farm. Enjoy the
PRICE IMPROVEMENT - Rare opportunity to build your dream home on this stunningly beautiful 10.8 acre lot, perfectly set in a peaceful FIELD setting. Perk testing is complete and zoning allows for either a single-family home or a duplex making it an excellent opportunity for multi-generational living. With plenty of open space, it could also be ideal for a horse property or small farm. Enjoy the
Welcome to your dream duplex in the heart of Athol! This spacious 6-bedroom, 2-bathroom home offers an incredible 3,248 square feet of living space, perfect for those seeking room to grow or entertain. With a blend of comfort and convenience, this property is ready to welcome you home.Key features that make this duplex stand out include:- Washer and dryer for your laundry needs-
Brand-New Renovation! Be the first to call this fully renovated 4-bedroom apartment home, perfectly situated along the scenic Millers River. Every detail has been updated with brand-new finishes throughout. Residents will appreciate the convenience of coin-operated laundry located on the first floor of the building, as well as off-street parking included in the rent. Contact us today with any
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