Compare towns
Hanson vs Douglas 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 kids (25% under 18).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Douglas | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
9,207Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
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% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$102,109±$8kLowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Hanson 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 |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Douglas 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 |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Douglas 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Douglas | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.