Compare towns
Webster vs Ware vs Athol vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Webster | Ware | Athol | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
10,048Lowest |
12,011 |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$387,300±$19kHighest 31% below MA |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,654Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton and Ware 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ware | Athol-Royalston | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Athol High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.