Compare towns
Ware vs Woonsocket vs Athol vs North Adams
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%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Woonsocket | Athol | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
43,521Highest |
12,011 |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| North Adams and Athol 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Adams 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% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$47,500±$7k 41% below U.S. |
| Athol and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket and Athol 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. |
$3,960Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Highest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #256 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Athol-Royalston | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Woonsocket High School | Athol High | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
11.6 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.