The Town FilesRoyalston, Massachusetts
Town in Worcester County · population 1,250 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $346,300
- Household income
- $102,109
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 47.8
Royalston is a town of 1,250 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $346,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks quieter than 94% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 82% of Massachusetts towns.
How Royalston ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Royalston is worth $346,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $102,109, which is more affordable than 93% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,650 a month. 96.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Royalston | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $346,300 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,650 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $102,109 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 96.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.9% | — |
Who lives in Royalston
| People | Royalston | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 38.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Royalston
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Royalston since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 9, 1972 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 1972.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 20, 2004.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Royalston itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Royalston
1 public school with 148 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalston Community School | PK-6 | 148 | 12.3 |
Towns near Royalston
- Fitzwilliam, NH4.7 mi · 2,351 people · home $305,900
- Winchendon, MA6.7 mi · 10,364 people · home $323,800
- Athol, MA7.0 mi · 8,486 people · home $248,700
- Winchendon, MA7.3 mi · 4,160 people · home $276,300
- Richmond, NH7.5 mi · 1,197 people · home $313,400
- Warwick, MA7.9 mi · 780 people · home $349,400
- Orange, MA7.9 mi · 7,569 people · home $245,900
- Orange, MA7.9 mi · 3,636 people · home $231,400
Royalston questions
Is Royalston, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Royalston scores better for retirees than 42% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 94%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Royalston?
The median owner-occupied home in Royalston is valued at $346,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,109, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,650 a month.
What is the weather like in Royalston?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 52.2 inches of snow.
Does Royalston get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Royalston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 9, 1972. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)