Compare towns
Royalston vs Chesterfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Chesterfield has the most people working from home (13.4%).
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 | Chesterfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,055Lowest |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
44.3±7.6 11% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
| Royalston and Chesterfield 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% |
19.1%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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% |
24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
34.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,109±$8k about the MA average |
$103,967±$11kHighest about the MA average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Royalston 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 |
$390,800±$48kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Chesterfield 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 |
$1,078±$409 39% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Royalston and Chesterfield 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 |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.2% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield 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 | — | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Chesterfield-Goshen | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.