Compare towns
Athol vs Exeter vs Dudley
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Exeter | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
16,151Highest |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | Exeter High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.1 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.