Compare towns
Athol vs Ware vs Royalston vs Ludlow
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 (27.7% rent).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Royalston | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
10,048 |
1,460Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Royalston 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$346,300±$18kHighest 38% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Ware | Athol-Royalston | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.