Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Mendon vs Ludlow
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 youngest population (median age 40.2).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Mendon | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
11,929 |
6,325Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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 MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon and Ludlow 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Mendon-Upton | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.