Compare towns
Hanson vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Putnam | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
9,292Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
43.7±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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Putnam 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.