Compare towns
Athol vs Monroe vs Ware vs Ludlow
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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
122Lowest |
10,048 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Ludlow 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% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Ludlow 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 |
— | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$335,300±$10kHighest 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
| Ludlow and Athol 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Ware | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.