Compare towns
Athol vs Strafford 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 the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% 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 | Strafford | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
4,306Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 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% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Strafford 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% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Strafford School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.