Compare towns
Royalston vs Athol vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalston has the highest household income ($102k).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Royalston | Athol | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
12,011Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Royalston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±10Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,300±$18kHighest 38% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Royalston and Athol 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.