Compare towns
Athol vs Ware vs Windsor 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%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Royalston has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Windsor | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
6,369 |
1,065Lowest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Windsor 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% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston 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 |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
| Windsor 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±$13k 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Windsor and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
— | $1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Athol 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 |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,867Highest 35% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | — | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | — | Athol-Royalston |
| 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 | 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.