Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Windsor 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%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Orange | Windsor | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,573 |
3,554Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest 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±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #61 of 70 in VT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.