Compare towns
Athol vs Warwick vs Erving vs Ware
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%).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Warwick | Erving | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
776Lowest |
1,703 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Warwick and Erving 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Warwick and Erving 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% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$5k 33% below MA |
$93,333±$22kHighest 10% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Warwick and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$349,400±$34kHighest 38% below MA |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Warwick and Ware 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 |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Warwick and Erving 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 |
$4,380Highest 27% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick 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 | Warwick | Erving | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town | 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 | 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.