Compare towns
Hanson vs Rutland vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Rutland | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
9,353Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Middleton 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 MA: 47.3% |
42% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$145,707±$28k 40% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| 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 5% below MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | Wachusett | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | 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 |
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.