Compare towns
Ware vs Lawrence 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%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Lawrence | Dudley | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
88,736Highest |
11,929 |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
40.2±2.4 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence 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 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Dudley and Athol 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 |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Lawrence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,422 43% 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% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Athol 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Lawrence | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lawrence High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.6 |
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.