Compare towns
Athol vs Sutton vs Ware vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Sutton | Ware | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
9,452 |
6,369 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Ware 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ware 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Sutton | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | Sutton High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
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.