Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (10.6%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
11,929Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Dudley 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.