Compare towns
Athol vs Guildhall 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).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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 | Guildhall | Dudley | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
371Lowest |
11,929 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall 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% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall 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% |
33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest 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. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Guildhall 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±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Dudley 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. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall 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% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%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. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 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 |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | 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 |
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.