Compare towns
Athol vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Lee | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
5,719Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Ware 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Lee 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 |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Lee 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Lee | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | Lee Middle/High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.