Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Ware vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% 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 | Dudley | Ware | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
11,929 |
10,048 |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Warren 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% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest 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% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Dudley 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±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Dudley 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 |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
11.1 |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.