Compare towns
Dudley vs West Springfield Town vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | West Springfield Town | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
28,772Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
40.1±2.6Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
| 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$69,371±$7k 33% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Dudley and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$321,500±$16k 43% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,144±$68Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Dudley and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$4,380Highest 27% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| West Springfield Town 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 MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 6% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and West Springfield Town 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 | #218 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | West Springfield | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | West Springfield High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.1 |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.