Compare towns
Dudley vs Plainville 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 most expensive homes ($393k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
17,551Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±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. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainville 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Athol 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. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%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. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Athol 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Plainville High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.