Compare towns
Ware vs Atkinson vs Athol vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Atkinson | Athol | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
7,267 |
12,011Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Athol and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Timberlane Regional School District | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.