Compare towns
Ware vs Brookfield vs Dudley 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 most people working from home (12.3%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Brookfield | Dudley | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
3,460Lowest |
11,929 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Ware 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% |
28.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Dudley and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Dudley 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 |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Brookfield | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.