Compare towns
Athol vs Epping 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
7,430 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Royalston 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,650±$412 17% above U.S. |
| Epping and Royalston 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 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 |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Epping School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.