Compare towns
Athol vs Dummerston vs Dudley vs Phillipston
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%).
Phillipston has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,090 |
11,929 |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Dummerston 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% |
17%±5Lowest 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% |
17.9%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Athol 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% |
25.4% 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% |
4%±1.6 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. |
$94,692±$14k 17% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Phillipston 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. |
$372,400±$27k 12% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$1,375±$849 about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Phillipston 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. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% 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% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above 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% |
9.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.