Compare towns
Hanson vs Dummerston vs Windsor 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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Royalston has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Dummerston | Windsor | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
2,090Highest |
1,065Lowest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4 15% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Windsor 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. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$115,563±$10k 43% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Windsor 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. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$389,700±$32k 17% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Dummerston 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs 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 21% below U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Windsor 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.