Compare towns
Dudley vs Salisbury vs Ware vs Athol
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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
5,656Lowest |
10,048 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Salisbury and Ware 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Salisbury 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 30% below MA |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Salisbury and Dudley 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 |
$4,561Highest 24% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Ware 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Ware | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
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.