Compare towns
Freetown vs Newfields vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freetown has the most renters (13.9% rent).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Newfields | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,023Lowest |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5 6% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freetown and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$15kLowest 78% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28k 80% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$462,800±$33kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Freetown and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rutland and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | — | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Newfields School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.