Compare towns
Athol vs Orange vs Ware vs Dudley
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).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Orange | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801 |
7,573 |
6,369Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Orange 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% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Ware 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Ware 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% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% 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±$15k 56% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% 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 |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940 24 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Athol 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school 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 |
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.