Compare towns
Athol vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% 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 | Northfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,872Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Northfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Athol and Northfield 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 |
$4,594Highest 23% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest 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% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Pioneer Valley | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | Pioneer Valley Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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.