Compare towns
Hanson vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
207,055Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.