Compare towns
Athol vs Smithfield vs Ware vs Royalston
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Smithfield | Ware | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
22,233Highest |
10,048 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Royalston 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Royalston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$102,109±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Ware 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Smithfield | Ware | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | Smithfield High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.8Highest |
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.