Compare towns
Athol vs Thompson 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Royalston has the most expensive homes ($346k median).
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 | Thompson | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
9,337 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6 23% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Athol 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Athol 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. |
$3,822Highest 23% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Thompson School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Athol High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.