Compare towns
Athol vs Winchendon 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).
Winchendon has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Winchendon | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
10,440Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Winchendon 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% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and Winchendon 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 |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Winchendon 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 |
$3,780Highest 37% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchendon 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Winchendon | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | Murdock High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.