Compare towns
Hanson vs Ware 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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Ware | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
10,048Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 64.3%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.