Compare towns
Ware vs Lee vs Athol
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 renters (42.6% rent).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Lee | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
5,719Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Ware 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 |
$83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Lee 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±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Lee and Athol 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 |
$3,980Highest 34% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 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 | 14.1% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lee | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.