Compare towns
Ware vs Barnstead vs Athol vs Dudley
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 oldest population (median age 43.1).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k 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 | Barnstead | Athol | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
4,994Lowest |
12,011Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Ware and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Dudley 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. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Barnstead School District | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.