Compare towns
Ware vs Athol vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Ware has the most expensive homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Athol | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
8,801 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the MA average |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$67,475±$15kHighest 35% below MA |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,120±$173Highest 36% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408 43% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1940 24 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Ware |
| High school in town | — | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.