Compare towns
Ware vs Monroe 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 people working from home (16.6%).
Monroe has the oldest population (median age 60.2).
Athol has the most expensive homes ($268k 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 | Monroe | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
122Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Lowest 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% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe 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 MA: 47.3% |
19.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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 |
— | $69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$268,100±$13kHighest 52% below MA |
| Athol 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 |
— | $1,150±$182Highest 35% 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 | $3,408Highest 43% below MA |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Athol 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 | — | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | — | Athol High |
| 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.