Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Hardwick vs Orange
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 people working from home (10.6%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Hardwick | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
11,929 |
2,684Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Hardwick and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Athol 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Dudley and Athol 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 |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Athol 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.