Compare towns
Ware vs Halifax vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Athol has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Halifax | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
847Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Athol and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Athol 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 44% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Athol and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Athol and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 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 | 14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax 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 |
| School district | — | Halifax School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.