Compare towns
Hanson vs Thompson vs Upton 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 kids (25% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Thompson | Upton | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
9,337Highest |
8,189 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6 23% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 48% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 54% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Thompson 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.