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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 |
16,038Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Athol and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Athol 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Windham School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Windham High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.8 |
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.