Compare towns
Athol vs Exeter vs Dudley vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Exeter | Dudley | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
16,151Highest |
11,929 |
8,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest 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% |
21.9% 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% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
9.7%±3.9 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 | #256 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 | 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.