Compare towns
Royalston vs Putnam vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalston has the highest household income ($102k).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Putnam | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
9,292Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston and Orange 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Putnam 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 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,300±$18kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalston and Putnam 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Putnam School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.