Compare towns
Athol vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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.
| Measure | Athol | Douglas | Sutton | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
9,207 |
9,452 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Douglas | Sutton | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.