Compare towns
Athol vs Petersham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Petersham | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
1,185Lowest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
| Petersham and Royalston 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% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham 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 MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Petersham 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 |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
| Petersham 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 52% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,650±$412 6% below MA |
| Petersham 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 |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
38 min 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Petersham | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.