Compare towns
Heath vs Athol vs Warwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Warwick has the most expensive homes ($349k 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 | Heath | Athol | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
12,011Highest |
776 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
| Heath and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
| Heath and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$349,400±$34kHighest 38% below MA |
| Warwick and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
| Warwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Warwick 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 | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Warwick |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.