Compare towns
Hanson vs Mapleton vs Rutland vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Hanson | Mapleton | Rutland | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
1,884Lowest |
9,353 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rutland and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28k 80% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170 24% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland and Middleton 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #150 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wachusett | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.