Compare towns
Athol vs Halifax vs Ware vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Royalston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Halifax | Ware | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
847Lowest |
6,369 |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston 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 14% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$102,109±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,408 9% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Halifax School District | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.