Compare towns
Athol vs Petersham 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%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,185Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Athol 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham 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±$5k 33% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Petersham and Athol 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 |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Petersham 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 | Petersham | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.