Compare towns
Royalston vs Sutton vs Orange
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 oldest population (median age 47.8).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Sutton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
9,452Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
| Royalston and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Royalston and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Sutton | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.