Compare towns
Athol vs Townsend vs Ware vs Royalston
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%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Townsend | Ware | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
9,100 |
10,048 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
| Townsend and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Royalston 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | North Middlesex | Ware | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.