Compare towns
Dudley vs Erving vs Whitman 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%).
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Erving | Whitman | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,703Lowest |
15,295Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Erving 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% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Whitman 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±$19k 30% below MA |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,403 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Whitman 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Erving | Whitman-Hanson | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | — | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.