Compare towns
Dudley vs Ware vs Washington 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 youngest population (median age 40.2).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Washington | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
10,048 |
3,676Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Washington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$101,549±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Washington 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±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Washington 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,709Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Ware 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Regional School District 12 | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepaug Valley School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.1 |
9.1Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.