Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Epping
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).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
11,929 |
7,430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Epping and Athol 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley 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. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley 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. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Epping School District |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.