Compare towns
Dudley vs Townsend vs Athol vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Townsend | Athol | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
9,100Lowest |
12,011 |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Athol and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Townsend 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 31% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | North Middlesex | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | North Middlesex Regional | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.1 |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.