Compare towns

Warren vs Warwick 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).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

MeasureWarrenWarwickAthol
People
Population
5,009
776Lowest
12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
0%
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
51.4±7.3Highest
29% above MA
41.3±1.9
3% above MA
Kids under 18
20.8%±8
MA: 19.4%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
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%
23.2%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.3%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
Warwick 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%
40.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Athol and Warren 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
$93,333±$22kHighest
10% below MA
$69,316±$5k
33% below MA
Warwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
$349,400±$34kHighest
38% below MA
$268,100±$13kLowest
52% below MA
Warwick and Warren 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
$1,367±$163Highest
22% below MA
$1,150±$182
35% below MA
Warwick and Athol 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
$4,380
27% below MA
$3,403Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±57.3
MA: 51.8%
57.5%±17.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Athol and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
16.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
72.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1953Lowest
11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
40 minHighest
37% above MA
27 minLowest
8% below MA
Work from home
8.5%±5.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.4%±6.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.6%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #165 of 282 in MA — #256 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional Warwick 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 Our Story 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.