Compare towns
Athol vs Coventry vs Orange 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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Coventry | Orange | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
917Lowest |
957 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.2±5.2 16% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Orange and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Coventry and Orange 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$59,342±$3kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$197,900±$55kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$755±$108Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Orange and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$2,375Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
$3,691Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
1.5%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange 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 | — | — | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Coventry School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.