Compare towns
Athol vs Windham vs Ware vs Orange
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Windham | Ware | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
16,038Highest |
10,048 |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Orange 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Windham School District | Ware | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Windham High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.