Compare towns
Hanson vs Ashburnham vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Royalston has the most affordable 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 | Hanson | Ashburnham | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
6,415Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$102,109±$8kLowest about the MA average |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,650±$412Lowest 6% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.