Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Warren
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 affordable homes ($249k 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 | Dudley | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
11,929Highest |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
38.7±7.3 3% below MA |
| Dudley and Warren 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dudley and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| 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±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Dudley and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.