Compare towns
Royalston vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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.
| Measure | Royalston | Townsend | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
9,100Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Townsend and Russell 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Royalston and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Royalston and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.