Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Easthampton
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Dudley | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
11,929Lowest |
16,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Athol 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
| Dudley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
| Dudley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
| Easthampton and Dudley 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 |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest 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 | 16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.