Compare towns
Athol vs Warren vs Warwick 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).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Warren | Warwick | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
5,009 |
776Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Warren 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% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Warwick 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 MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$93,333±$22kHighest 10% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Warwick 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 |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Warwick 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 |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Warwick and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quaboag Regional | Warwick | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.0Lowest |
— | 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.