Compare towns
Athol vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Springfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
154,749Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kHighest 52% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Athol and Springfield 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 |
$3,695Highest 38% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 8% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.