Compare towns
Royalston vs Chesterfield 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 most kids (21.2% under 18).
Chesterfield has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Phillipston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,055Lowest |
1,895Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
44.3±7.6Lowest 11% 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%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Chesterfield 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% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest 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% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest 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±$8k about the MA average |
$103,967±$11kHighest about the MA average |
$94,692±$14kLowest 9% 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±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
$390,800±$48kHighest 30% below MA |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Phillipston 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±$409Lowest 39% 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 |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
$3,914 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Chesterfield-Goshen | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.