Compare towns
Athol vs Ware vs Westminster vs Orange
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Ware has the most expensive homes ($290k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
10,048 |
2,999Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Ware and Westminster 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% 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. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Ware | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1 |
10.6 |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.