Compare towns
Athol vs Dummerston vs Dudley vs Ludlow
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Dummerston | Dudley | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
2,090Lowest |
11,929 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Ludlow 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Ludlow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Ludlow 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. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Ludlow 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Ludlow 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | 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 |
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.