Compare towns
Athol vs Madison vs Dudley
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).
Madison has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Madison | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,680Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Madison 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Madison 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. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Madison 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. |
$4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Madison School District | 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 |
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.