Compare towns
Athol vs Woonsocket vs Dudley vs Ware
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).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Woonsocket | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801Lowest |
43,521Highest |
11,929 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3 5% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Dudley 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±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Woonsocket 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 |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Athol 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% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware |
| High school in town | — | Woonsocket High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
14.3 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.