Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0In Royalston, 72% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Massachusetts
Royalston’s town government spent $0 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $0 per resident.
What stands out about how Royalston is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
Athol-Royalston School District
Royalston’s K–12 school district, shared with Athol. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $21,049 per pupil, $11,424 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
No comparison or trend for Royalston yet
The fair comparison uses 2022, the last year the Census Bureau counted every government (later years are a sample), and Royalston’s 2022 operating figures are mostly a Census estimate, so they aren’t compared. It reported 2022 only, so there is no trend yet either. The next full count is 2027.
How Town Hall compares budgets →The typical homeowner pays $3,196 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.92% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Royalston’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Royalston’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Royalston →
Who’s in charge in Royalston
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Royalston’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on royalston-ma.gov ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 256 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,278).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
How Royalston voted in 2024
Official results for Royalston’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat48.5%392 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican48.3%391 votesOthers: 3.2% (26 votes).
Most votes in Royalston: Kamala D Harris
Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Royalston’s 1,122 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Royalston: John Deaton
Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: James P Mc Govern
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Royalston, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalston | 48.5% | 48.3% | 3.2% | 809 |
| Worcester County | 53.6% | 43.7% | 2.7% | 420,841 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Royalston.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: royalston-ma.gov ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Royalston compares with the towns next door
Royalston’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate, so it isn’t placed among them. Neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,168 to $3,631 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Templeton | $1,168 | $4,554 |
| Athol | $1,633 | $3,403 |
| Phillipston | $1,841 | $3,914 |
| Orange | $2,862 runs schools | $4,136 |
| Winchendon | $3,631 runs schools | $3,780 |
| Royalston | estimate | $3,196 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Royalston’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Royalston’s government
How much does Royalston spend per resident?
About $0 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau.
What is the property tax rate in Royalston?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,196 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.92% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see royalston-ma.gov.
Who runs Royalston’s government?
See royalston-ma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Royalston yet.
How did Royalston vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 48.5%, Donald J Trump 48.3% (809 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Royalston?
5 full-time and 45 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $54,597 (about $655,164 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Royalston in the state legislature?
State Senate District Hampshire-Franklin-Worcester (Jo Comerford) and State House District 2nd Franklin (Susannah Whipps). The House district also covers nine other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Royalston’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →