Compare towns
Athol vs Derry vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Derry has the most people working from home (16%).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Athol | Derry | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
34,116Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Derry and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— |
| 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.