Compare towns
Athol vs Plainfield vs Orange 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 people working from home (10.6%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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 | Plainfield | Orange | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
15,141Highest |
7,573Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Orange 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield 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. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #275 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Plainfield School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | Plainfield High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.3 |
9.0Lowest |
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.