Compare towns
Dudley vs Maynard vs Athol vs Whitman
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 youngest population (median age 40.2).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% 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 | Maynard | Athol | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
10,712Lowest |
12,011 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Maynard 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Maynard and Whitman 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Maynard and Whitman 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Maynard | Athol-Royalston | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Maynard High | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.7Lowest |
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.