Compare towns
Dudley vs Unity vs Whitman 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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Whitman | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,375Lowest |
15,295Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Whitman and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Whitman and Unity 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. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whitman 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Unity School District | Whitman-Hanson | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | — | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.