Compare towns
Royalston vs Sutton vs Upton vs Winchendon
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Winchendon has the most renters (23.4% rent).
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 | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
10,440Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Royalston and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Winchendon 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%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% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Winchendon 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 |
$75,690±$14kLowest 27% 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±$18k 38% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$323,800±$19kLowest 42% 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 |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Royalston and Winchendon 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 |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Winchendon 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 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 | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Winchendon |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.