Compare towns
Hanson vs Mapleton vs Plympton 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 kids (25% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Plympton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Plympton | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
1,884 |
2,935Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Plympton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 48% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Plympton 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±$55k 54% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 106% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,196 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Plympton 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plympton 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 | — | #110 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plympton | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None 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.