Compare towns
Warren vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
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 | Gardner | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Warren 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner 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% |
23.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
| Athol and Gardner 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 |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Warren and Gardner 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 |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
| Athol and Gardner 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 |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Gardner | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Gardner High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.