Compare towns
Athol vs Dudley vs Woonsocket
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).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
11,929Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Athol 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
19.8%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% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Athol 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. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Woonsocket 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. |
$3,960Highest 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Athol High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
14.3 |
15.2Highest |
| 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.