Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Fall River
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).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
11,929Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest 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%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% 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±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA |
| Fall River 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 35% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
| Dudley and Fall River 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 |
$3,953Highest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.