Compare towns
Athol vs Ware vs Wheelock
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).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
10,048 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Ware 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest 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% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Athol and Ware 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. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Ware and Athol 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±$109Lowest 26% 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 | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock 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 | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.