Compare towns
Ware vs Conway 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
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Conway | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
10,141 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Ware 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% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%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% |
5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Conway 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±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Conway and Ware 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. |
$1,095±$141 23% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Athol and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$4,087 31% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9Lowest 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Conway School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Kennett High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.