Compare towns
Athol vs Brookfield vs Ware vs Ludlow
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 renters (27.7% rent).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
3,460Lowest |
10,048 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Ludlow 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Ludlow 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±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$341,900±$23kHighest 39% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Brookfield and Ludlow 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 |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
| Ludlow 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Brookfield | Ware | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
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.