Compare towns
Dudley vs Ogunquit vs Berlin 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
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($121k).
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 | Ogunquit | Berlin | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,379Lowest |
3,378 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
— | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Berlin 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Berlin-Boylston | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | 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 |
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.