Compare towns
Dudley vs Plaistow 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Plaistow has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Plaistow | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
7,861Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest 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% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Plaistow 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% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plaistow 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±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Timberlane Regional School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Timberlane Regional 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.