Compare towns
Athol vs Webster vs Dudley vs Ludlow
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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Webster | Dudley | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,748 |
11,929Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Webster 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% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Ludlow 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Webster and Ludlow 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Ludlow 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Athol 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Webster | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | Bartlett High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.6 |
14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.