Compare towns
Warren vs Dover vs Athol
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 renters (35.5% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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 | Warren | Dover | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
5,930 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Dover and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Dover and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
9.8Lowest |
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.