Compare towns
Dudley vs Chaplin vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Dudley | Chaplin | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
2,070Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dudley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,524Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Parish Hill High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.5Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.