Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Ware vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Athol | Orange | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801 |
7,573Lowest |
10,048 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Webster |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.