Compare towns

Athol vs Woonsocket vs Warren

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).

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.

MeasureAtholWoonsocketWarren
People
Population
8,801
43,521Highest
5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.8±3.3
5% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
38.7±7.3Highest
about the U.S. average
Warren and Athol 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%
20.8%±8Lowest
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%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Athol and Woonsocket 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%
23.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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±$8kHighest
17% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$66,082±$6k
18% below U.S.
Athol and Warren 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.
$333,700±$35kHighest
about the U.S. average
Warren and Woonsocket 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.
$1,161±$48Highest
18% below U.S.
$890±$174Lowest
37% below U.S.
Woonsocket 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
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$4,530Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.2%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Athol and Woonsocket 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%
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
63.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1940Lowest
40 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
9.7%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Athol and Warren 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 #165 of 282 in MA
School district — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Quaboag Regional
High school in town — Woonsocket High School Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.