Compare towns
Ware vs Brookline vs Athol
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Brookline | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
5,736Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Athol 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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 16% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 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% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Brookline School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.