Compare towns
Warren vs Halifax 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).
Halifax has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Halifax | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
7,748 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Halifax 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Halifax 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% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Halifax | 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 |
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.