Compare towns
Athol vs Webster vs Ware vs Royalston
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%).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Royalston has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Webster | Ware | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,227 |
10,048 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston 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 14% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Webster and Royalston 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. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Ware 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% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Ware | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.