Compare towns
Townshend vs Ware vs Windham vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Townshend | Ware | Windham | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
6,369Highest |
594 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Athens and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 72% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,438 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | — | — |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.