Compare towns

Athol vs Woonsocket vs Webster 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 the most renters (62.8% rent).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Warren has the most homeowners (64.5%).

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.

MeasureAtholWoonsocketWebsterWarren
People
Population
8,801
43,521Highest
17,748
5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%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.
39.9±2.9Highest
about the U.S. average
38.7±7.3
about the U.S. average
Webster and Warren 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%
19.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±8
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%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Webster and Athol 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%
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster and Woonsocket 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$72,895±$6kHighest
10% below U.S.
$66,082±$6k
18% below U.S.
Webster and Athol 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.
$361,500±$12kHighest
9% above U.S.
$333,700±$35k
about the U.S. average
Webster and Warren 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±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,228±$81Highest
13% below U.S.
$890±$174Lowest
37% below U.S.
Webster 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.
$3,999
28% 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%
45.7%±6.7
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%
12.7%
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%
59.8%
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.
1962
18 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.
31 min
16% 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%±2.5
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 #271 of 282 in MA #165 of 282 in MA
School district — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Webster Quaboag Regional
High school in town — Woonsocket High School Bartlett High School Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
11.6
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.