Compare towns
Royalston vs Sutton vs Upton vs Russell
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 homeowners (96%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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 | Upton | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.7±7.6 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%±10 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% 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%±4.3 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above 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±$18k 38% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% 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 |
$1,013±$330 43% 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Upton 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% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| 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%±4.3Lowest 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.