Compare towns
Athol vs Brookfield vs Ware vs Orange
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 (12.3%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
3,460Lowest |
10,048 |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%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 |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Athol 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield 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 33% below MA |
$81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Brookfield and Athol 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±$23kHighest 39% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Athol and Ware 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 |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest 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 |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Brookfield | Ware | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.1 |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.