Compare towns
Warren vs Athol vs Ware vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Warren | Athol | Ware | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
12,011Highest |
6,369 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% 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 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest 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+ | 23.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Warren and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Athol-Royalston | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Athol High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.