Compare towns
Royalston vs Ludlow vs Athol
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 homeowners (96%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Ludlow | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
20,904Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest 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% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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 |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,300±$18kHighest 38% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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 |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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 |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 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% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | #154 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Ludlow | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.