Compare towns
Athol vs Providence vs Ware 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).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Providence | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
191,767Highest |
10,048Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware 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% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Providence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$68,119±$3k 16% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Athol 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. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Providence 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. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence and Ware 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | Classical High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
17.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
14.3 |
| 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.