Compare towns
Athol vs Everett vs Ludlow vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Everett | Ludlow | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
50,045Highest |
20,904 |
8,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
36.8±3.3 8% below MA |
| Ludlow and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Athol 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Everett 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±$13k 52% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1940 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Everett | Ludlow | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Everett High | Ludlow Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.1Highest |
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.