What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dudley	Athol
People
Population	11,929Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA
	Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Highest 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+	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
	Dudley and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA
	Dudley and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Highest 38% below MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest 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	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%	16.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 6% below MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Highest 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	#142 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.