Compare towns
Athol vs Warren vs Webster 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Warren | Webster | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
5,009Lowest |
17,748Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Webster 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 |
$3,999 33% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Dudley 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quaboag Regional | Webster | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | Quaboag Regional High | Bartlett High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.0Lowest |
11.6 |
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.