Compare towns
Athol vs Monroe vs Ware vs Orange
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 expensive homes ($268k median).
Monroe has the oldest population (median age 60.2).
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 | Monroe | Ware | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
122Lowest |
6,369 |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
19.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
— | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
| Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kHighest 52% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
— | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 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% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.