Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Erving
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
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 | Dudley | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
11,929Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Erving and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
| Dudley and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
| Dudley and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170 47% below MA |
$3,691Highest 38% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Erving |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.