Compare towns
Athol vs Epping 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Epping | Dudley | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
7,430Lowest |
11,929 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%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% |
86.3%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. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer 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 |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Epping School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | Epping High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.