Compare towns
Fall River vs Middlesex vs Putney vs Somerset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Somerset has the most expensive homes ($419k 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 | Fall River | Middlesex | Putney | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47±2.2Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Somerset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$112,677±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$418,800±$18kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,271±$93 10% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,977 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somerset and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town | None in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.