Compare towns
Phillipston vs Gardner vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phillipston has the most expensive homes ($372k median).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Royalston has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Phillipston | Gardner | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,895 |
21,148Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
| Phillipston and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
| Royalston and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Phillipston and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$849 22% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 35% below MA |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.