Compare towns
Hanson vs Everett vs Royalston vs Oakham
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 highest household income ($119k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Royalston has the most affordable homes ($346k median).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Everett | Royalston | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
50,045Highest |
1,460Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| 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±$55k 9% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,650±$412 6% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Everett 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
38 min 32% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Everett | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.