Compare towns
Athol vs Berlin vs Ware vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Berlin | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
3,378Lowest |
10,048 |
8,801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Berlin and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Berlin 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 33% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,120±$173 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Berlin-Boylston | 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 |
MA 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.