Compare towns
Athol vs Erving vs Dudley vs Orange
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).
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Erving | Dudley | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801 |
1,703Lowest |
11,929Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Erving 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% 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±$15k 56% below MA |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8 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 | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Erving | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.