Compare towns
Dudley vs Walpole 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%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Athol has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Walpole | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
3,690Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Athol 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Athol 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% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Walpole 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Highest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.