Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Townsend
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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
11,929 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Athol and Townsend 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Townsend 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%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend 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±$182 31% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Dudley 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.