Compare towns
Royalston vs Oakham 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 most kids (21.2% under 18).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Oakham | Sandisfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,639Highest |
994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Lowest 20% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.9±7.5Highest 25% above MA |
| Sandisfield and Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
14%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
28%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sandisfield and Oakham 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% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$91,111±$23kLowest 12% below MA |
| Royalston and Oakham 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$360,300±$34k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% 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 |
$4,103Highest 32% below MA |
$3,328 44% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 32% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.