Compare towns
Athol vs Chicopee vs Ware
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%).
Chicopee has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Chicopee | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
55,295Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Chicopee and Athol 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% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest 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% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee 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% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Athol and Chicopee 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 |
$274,500±$8kHighest 51% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Chicopee and Athol 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 |
$1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Chicopee 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 |
$3,847Highest 36% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 8% below MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Athol 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Chicopee | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.