Compare towns
Warren vs Erving vs Ware 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 expensive homes ($334k median).
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Warren | Erving | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
1,703Lowest |
6,369 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Erving 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% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 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% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving 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% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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±$6k 36% below MA |
$77,656±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Erving and Athol 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 |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Erving and Athol 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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 | 9% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Erving | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | — | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.