Compare towns
Athol vs Hampton vs Dudley vs Winchendon
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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Hampton | Dudley | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,647Lowest |
11,929 |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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 19% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Winchendon 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. |
$4,364Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Athol 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Winchendon 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 | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Hampton School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 14.3Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.