Compare towns
Ware vs Sheffield 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%).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Sheffield | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
3,330Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Sheffield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Sheffield 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 35% below MA |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Sheffield 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 |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Sheffield 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 |
$4,520Highest 25% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Southern Berkshire | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Mt Everett Regional | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.8Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.