Compare towns
Athol vs Adams 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 (21.8% under 18).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Adams | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
8,074Lowest |
10,048 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 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+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% 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 | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,043±$109 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 | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,638 39% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Hoosac Valley Regional | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
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.