Compare towns
Athol vs Warren vs Windham vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Warren | Windham | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801 |
5,009 |
594Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.7±7.3 about the U.S. average |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Athol 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 17% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Webster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quaboag Regional | — | Webster |
| High school in town | — | Quaboag Regional High | — | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.