Compare towns
Dudley vs Chicopee vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
Athol has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Chicopee | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
55,295Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Chicopee 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 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 |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Dudley and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$3,847Highest 36% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Chicopee 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% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 6% below MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Chicopee | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.