Compare towns
Hanson vs Berlin 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
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Royalston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Berlin | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
2,880Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6 23% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Berlin 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 48% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.