Compare towns
Dudley vs Gorham vs Ware 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
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Gorham | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
18,300Highest |
10,048Lowest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Ware 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Gorham 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. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Athol 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Ware 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gorham Public Schools | Ware | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gorham High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.9 |
11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.