Compare towns
Gardner vs Ware vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Gardner | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
10,048 |
8,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest 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+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
24%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,120±$173Highest 36% below MA |
| Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9 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 | 13.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.