Compare towns
Warren vs Halifax vs Ware vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Athol has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
847Lowest |
10,048 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 18% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Warren and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 37% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 45% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Halifax School District | Ware | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.