Compare towns
Freetown vs Putney 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 expensive homes ($518k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,622Lowest |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 5% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.4±2.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Freetown 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putney 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15k 78% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,657Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Rutland 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.