Compare towns
Dudley vs Ware vs Woonsocket 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 the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Athol has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Ware | Woonsocket | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
6,369Lowest |
43,521Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Athol 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. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Woonsocket 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. |
$3,408 9% above U.S. |
$3,960Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Woonsocket High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | 15.2Highest |
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.