Compare towns
Hanson vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
2,684Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$102,109±$8k 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±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.