Compare towns
Ware vs Spencer vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k 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 | Spencer | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
12,008 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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 35% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Spencer 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 |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
| Athol and Spencer 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 |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest 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% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Spencer-E Brookfield | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | David Prouty High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.9Lowest |
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.