Compare towns
Ware vs Thompson vs Athol vs North Brookfield
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 people working from home (16.6%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k 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 | Thompson | Athol | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
9,337 |
12,011Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Brookfield 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 44% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson and North Brookfield 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,176Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 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 |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Athol-Royalston | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Athol High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
11.6Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.