Compare towns
Royalston vs Athol vs Sandisfield
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 renters (27.6% rent).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Sandisfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
12,011Highest |
994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49.9±7.5Highest 25% above MA |
| Sandisfield 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% |
14%±2.9Lowest 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%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sandisfield and Royalston 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% |
26% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sandisfield and Royalston 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 |
$91,111±$23k 12% below MA |
| Royalston and Sandisfield 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 |
$360,300±$34kHighest 36% below MA |
| Sandisfield 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 |
$1,250±$220 29% below MA |
| Royalston and Sandisfield 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 |
$3,403Highest 43% below MA |
$3,328 44% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Sandisfield 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sandisfield 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 | — | #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.