Compare towns
Warren vs Middlesex 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 renters (35.5% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009 |
1,943Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 18% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Athol 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Warren 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.