Compare towns
Hanson vs Putney 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
2,622Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest 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. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.