Compare towns
Dudley vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Windham | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
19,188Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Windham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Windham 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±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$3,938Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | RSU 14 | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Windham High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.1 |
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.