Compare towns
Templeton vs Orange vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Templeton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Royalston has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Templeton | Orange | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Highest |
7,573 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Royalston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,154±$15k about the MA average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
| Royalston and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
| Templeton and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
| Royalston and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554Highest 24% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Templeton and Royalston 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 | #244 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Narragansett | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.