Compare towns
Athol vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Hanover | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
14,845Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Athol 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Hanover 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 33% below MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,650±$412 6% below MA |
| Hanover and Royalston 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 |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Hanover 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.