Compare towns
Athol vs Newark vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Newark has the most homeowners (90.8%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% 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 | Newark | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
727Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.4±6Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newark and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Newark 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% |
19.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newark 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Athol 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. |
$72,929±$7kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Newark 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±$13kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
| 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±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,771Highest 21% above U.S. |
$3,408 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Newark 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.