What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

Royalston has the oldest population (median age 47.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashburnham	Royalston
People
Population	6,415Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average	47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA
	Royalston and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±10Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Royalston and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA	$102,109±$8kLowest about the MA average
	Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA	$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA
	Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average	$1,650±$412Lowest 6% below MA
	Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,046Highest about the MA average	$3,196Lowest 47% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	85.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%	11.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96% MA: 62.5%	96% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	38 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashburnham and Royalston 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	#178 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.