Compare towns
Adams vs Athol vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Adams | Athol | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
12,011Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Athol and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$268,100±$13kHighest 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Highest 39% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #230 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.