Compare towns
Athol vs Canton 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
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Athol has the most renters (36.3% rent).
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 | Canton | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
24,748Highest |
10,048 |
8,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Ware and Canton 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% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Canton 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% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Athol 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% |
67.5%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% |
4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Canton 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 |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,120±$173 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$6,560Highest 9% 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% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%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 |
1980Highest 16 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 |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Canton High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.1Highest |
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.