Compare towns
Athol vs Rye vs Ware vs Ludlow
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 the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Ware | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
5,611Lowest |
10,048 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow 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 14% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Rye School District | Ware | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | 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 |
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.