Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Unity
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).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
11,929Highest |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Unity 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 | Unity School District |
| 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 |
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.