Compare towns
Athol vs Middlesex vs Dudley vs Ludlow
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
1,943Lowest |
11,929 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%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±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Middlesex 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Middlesex 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% |
27% 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% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| 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±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Ludlow 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Ludlow 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 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. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.