Compare towns
Phillipston vs Plainfield 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
Phillipston has the most expensive homes ($372k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Plainfield | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,895 |
15,141Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.8±14.6 23% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Royalston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Royalston 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 17% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,109±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 12% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalston and Plainfield 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.