Compare towns
Athol vs Ware vs Wrentham
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 most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
10,048Lowest |
12,297Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
| Wrentham 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Wrentham 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% |
21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,184±$628Highest 33% below MA |
| Wrentham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$7,373Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Ware | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.