Compare towns
Warren vs Plainfield vs Athol vs Ware
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).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Athol | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
1,314Lowest |
12,011Highest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest 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. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Athol and Plainfield 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 |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Warren and Plainfield 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. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,408 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Plainfield 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | — | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | — | 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 |
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.