Compare towns
Athol vs Middlesex vs Dudley vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Dudley | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,943Lowest |
11,929 |
8,801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 19% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.