Compare towns
Athol vs Brookfield vs Ware vs Phillipston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Phillipston has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Brookfield | Ware | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
3,460 |
6,369 |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
| Brookfield and Phillipston 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%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Phillipston 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 |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA |
| Phillipston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
| Phillipston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA |
| Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,914 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Brookfield | — | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.