Compare towns
Hanson vs Mason 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).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Mason | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Highest |
1,451Lowest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Hanson 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Mason 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. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Mason 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. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,650±$412Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Mason and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 106% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Royalston 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minLowest 39% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
38 min 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Mason School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.