Compare towns

Athol vs Warwick vs Woonsocket

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 the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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.

MeasureAtholWarwickWoonsocket
People
Population
12,011
776Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.9
6% above U.S.
51.4±7.3Highest
32% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.3%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Warwick and Athol 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%
40.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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
14% below U.S.
$93,333±$22kHighest
16% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Warwick 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±$13kLowest
19% below U.S.
$349,400±$34kHighest
5% above U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
Warwick and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$182Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,367±$163Highest
3% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
Warwick and Woonsocket 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.
$4,380Highest
40% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±17.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±57.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Athol and Woonsocket 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%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
27 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
40 minHighest
52% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
10.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.4%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #256 of 282 in MA — #37 of 38 in RI
School district Athol-Royalston Warwick RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Athol High None in town Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Lowest
—
15.2Highest
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.