Compare towns
Ware vs Thompson vs Athol vs Winchendon
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 most renters (27.7% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k 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 | Thompson | Athol | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
9,337Lowest |
12,011Highest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winchendon 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Winchendon 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Winchendon and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Athol 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Thompson School District | Athol-Royalston | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Athol High | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.