Compare towns
Athol vs Ware vs Whitman
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 oldest population (median age 41.3).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
6,369Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Athol and Whitman 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman 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 |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Whitman 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.