Compare towns
Dudley vs Unity vs Athol vs Ware
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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Unity | Athol | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,375Lowest |
12,011Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Unity School District | Athol-Royalston | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.