Compare towns
Athol vs Sandisfield vs Ware vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Sandisfield | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
994Lowest |
10,048 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
49.9±7.5Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Sandisfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
28%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sandisfield and Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
26%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±4.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Sandisfield 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 33% below MA |
$91,111±$23kHighest 12% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Sandisfield 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±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$360,300±$34k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,250±$220Highest 29% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Sandisfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$3,328Lowest 44% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sandisfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
96.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sandisfield 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.