Compare towns
Royalston vs Athol vs Phillipston
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 the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Phillipston has the most expensive homes ($372k 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 | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
12,011Highest |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
48.8±1.7Highest 22% 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 | 21.2%±10 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Royalston 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston and Athol 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6 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 | $102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
| Royalston and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$372,400±$27kHighest 34% 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 | $1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,375±$849 22% 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 | $3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$3,914Highest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest 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 | 11.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.