Compare towns
Dudley vs Union vs Athol vs Webster
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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Union | Athol | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
944Lowest |
12,011 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Webster 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Union 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±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% 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. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Athol 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Dudley 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Union School District | Athol-Royalston | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Athol High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.