What stands out worked out from the figures below

Royalston has the most kids (21.2% under 18).

Russell has the shortest commute (30 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Royalston	Russell
People
Population	1,460Highest	1,197Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA	47.7±7.6Lowest 19% above MA
	Royalston and Russell 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%	10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Royalston and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Royalston and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	30.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Royalston and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,109±$8kLowest about the MA average	$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA
	Russell 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±$18kHighest 38% below MA	$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA
	Royalston and Russell 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	$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA
	Royalston and Russell 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	$5,104Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Royalston and Russell 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%	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 32% above MA	30 minLowest 3% above MA
Work from home	10.7%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Royalston and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athol-Royalston	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.