Compare towns
Athol vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
5,656 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
| Salisbury 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest 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% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Salisbury 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 |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
| Royalston and Salisbury 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 |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,650±$412 6% below MA |
| Salisbury 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 |
$4,561Highest 24% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Salisbury 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.