Compare towns
Athol vs Sturbridge 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 the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
9,960Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Sturbridge 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 MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.