Compare towns
Ware vs Worcester vs Adams 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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Worcester | Adams | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
831Lowest |
8,074 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Adams and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Adams 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. |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Worcester 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±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Athol 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$963±$74Lowest 32% 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. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,638 17% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Adams 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% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #230 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hoosac Valley Regional | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.