Compare towns
Dudley vs Epping vs Athol vs Ware
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 youngest population (median age 40.2).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Epping | Athol | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
7,430Lowest |
12,011Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Ware 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Ware 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Ware 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Epping School District | Athol-Royalston | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Epping High School | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.6 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.