Compare towns
Athol vs Erving vs Dudley vs Ludlow
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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Erving | Dudley | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
1,703Lowest |
11,929 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow and Erving 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% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Ludlow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
| Ludlow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Athol 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 | Erving | 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 |
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.