Compare towns
Athol vs Newfields vs Dudley vs Phillipston
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).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Phillipston has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Newfields | Dudley | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,023 |
11,929 |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Phillipston 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dudley and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$94,692±$14k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$372,400±$27k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,375±$849 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Phillipston 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Newfields 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 | 7 photos → | 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.