Compare towns
Athol vs Wheelock 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Royalston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Wheelock | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
717Lowest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6 23% above U.S. |
| Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock 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% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest 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±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$102,109±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% 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 | $3,403Highest 9% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,196 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | 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 |
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.