Compare towns
Ware vs Ayer vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Ayer | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
8,645Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Ware 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 35% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Ayer and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Ayer Shirley School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.5 |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA 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.