Compare towns
Dudley vs Hampton 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 most expensive homes ($393k median).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Hampton | Athol | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,647Lowest |
12,011Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%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. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
29.9%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% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$4,364Highest 40% 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% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
5.7%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% |
90%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. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
29 minHighest 10% 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% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hampton School District | Athol-Royalston | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.