Compare towns
Athol vs Hancock vs Ware vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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 | Hancock | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
752Lowest |
6,369 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
47.1±11.1Highest 18% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Hancock 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% |
19.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Hancock 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±$13k 52% below MA |
$375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Hancock and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,691Highest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Hancock | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| 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.