Compare towns
Dudley vs Plainfield vs Webster 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 highest household income ($85k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Athol has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Webster | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
15,141 |
17,748Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield 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. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 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 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Plainfield School District | Webster | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Plainfield High School | Bartlett High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.6 |
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.