Compare towns
Athol vs Central Falls vs Dudley
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Central Falls | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
22,701Highest |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| 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±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,744Highest 20% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | Central Falls Sr High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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.