Compare towns
Dudley vs Easthampton vs Athol vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Easthampton | Athol | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
16,086 |
12,011 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 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% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster 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 |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Dudley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Easthampton and Webster 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 |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 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% |
8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Easthampton | Athol-Royalston | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Easthampton High | Athol High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.6 |
11.6 |
| 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.