What stands out worked out from the figures below

Phillipston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Phillipston	Royalston
People
Population	1,895Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA	47.8±14.6Lowest 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%	21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4%
	Royalston and Phillipston 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%	20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	28.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Royalston and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,692±$14kLowest 9% 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	$346,300±$18kLowest 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±$849Lowest 22% 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	$3,914Highest 35% below MA	$3,196Lowest 47% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	85.7%±100Lowest 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%	11.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	96%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	38 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.7%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Royalston and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.