Compare towns
Hanson vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Orange | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
7,573Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Orange 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% 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 |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.