Compare towns
Hanson vs Royalston vs Oakham
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).
Royalston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Oakham has the most renters (8.4% rent).
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 | Royalston | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Highest |
1,460Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Royalston 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% |
21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Oakham 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 |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
$102,000±$20kLowest 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 |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Royalston and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Oakham 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minLowest 26% above MA |
38 min 32% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.