Compare towns
Dudley vs Washington vs Windsor Locks 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Washington | Windsor Locks | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
3,676Lowest |
12,579Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 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. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$4,709Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Regional School District 12 | Windsor Locks School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Shepaug Valley School | Windsor Locks High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.1 |
8.9Lowest |
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.