Compare towns
Athol vs Barnstead vs Ware vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Barnstead | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
4,994Lowest |
10,048 |
8,801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Ware and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9 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 | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead and Ware 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Barnstead School District | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 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.