Compare towns
Athol vs Coventry vs Orange vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Athol | Coventry | Orange | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801 |
917Lowest |
7,573 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.2±5.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Coventry and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$59,342±$3k 26% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15k 25% below U.S. |
$197,900±$55kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
$755±$108Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170 about the U.S. average |
$2,375Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
1.5%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Dudley 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Coventry School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.