Compare towns
Freetown vs Hardwick vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freetown has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Freetown | Hardwick | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,684Lowest |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
41.4±2.5 4% above MA |
| Hardwick and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Freetown and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 13% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,657Highest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland and Hardwick 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 | #161 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Quabbin | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.