Compare towns
Royalston vs Ware vs Chesterfield
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 kids (21.2% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($391k 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 | Ware | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
10,048Highest |
1,055Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±7.6 11% above MA |
| Royalston and Chesterfield 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Royalston 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$103,967±$11kHighest about the MA average |
| Chesterfield and Royalston 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$390,800±$48kHighest 30% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Royalston 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,078±$409 39% below MA |
| Royalston and Chesterfield 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Ware | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.