Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Oxford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
11,929Lowest |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
42±2.8Highest 5% above MA |
| Oxford 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Oxford 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% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Oxford and Dudley 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 |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
| Dudley and Oxford 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 |
$1,177±$142 33% below MA |
| Dudley and Oxford 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 |
$4,622Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford and Athol 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 | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Oxford |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.