Compare towns
Athol vs Hardwick vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Hardwick | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,684Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
| Dudley and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Dudley 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin | 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 |
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.