Compare towns
Ware vs Worcester vs Athol vs Orange
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%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Worcester | Athol | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
831Lowest |
12,011Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% 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% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% 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. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% 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. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% 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. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% 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% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.