Compare towns
Webster vs Athol vs Warner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Athol | Warner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
12,011Highest |
2,959 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$353,100±$22kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Warner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Warner 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Athol-Royalston | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.