Compare towns
Royalston vs Sutton vs Upton vs Phillipston
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 affordable homes ($346k median).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Phillipston has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Upton | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6 20% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
| Phillipston and Royalston 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Phillipston 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$94,692±$14kLowest 9% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,375±$849 22% below MA |
| Royalston and Phillipston 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,914 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Royalston 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.