Compare towns
Athol vs Temple vs Ware vs Orange
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Temple | Ware | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,363Lowest |
6,369 |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Temple and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Athol 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. |
$94,107±$15kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Temple and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,408 9% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.