Compare towns
Athol vs Ware vs Webster vs Orange
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 homeowners (72.4%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Ware | Webster | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
6,369Lowest |
17,748Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
| Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Webster 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 |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Webster | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Bartlett High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.