What stands out worked out from the figures below

Royalston has the most kids (21.2% under 18).

Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Royalston	Warwick
People
Population	1,460Highest	776Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	0%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±14.6Lowest 20% above MA	51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA
	Warwick and Royalston 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%	9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Royalston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Warwick 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	40.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Royalston and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average	$93,333±$22kLowest 10% below MA
	Royalston and Warwick 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	$349,400±$34kHighest 38% below MA
	Warwick 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	$1,367±$163Lowest 22% below MA
	Royalston and Warwick 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	$4,380Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Royalston and Warwick 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%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest MA: 62.5%	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minLowest 32% above MA	40 minHighest 37% above MA
Work from home	10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Warwick and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athol-Royalston	Warwick
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.