Compare towns
Athol vs Union vs Orange 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Union has the highest household income ($89k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Union | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
944Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Union and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Union 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 19% below U.S. |
— | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Athol and Ware 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. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Ware 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Union School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.