Compare towns

Middleton vs Fall River vs Rutland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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.

MeasureMiddletonFall RiverRutland
People
Population
9,816
94,082Highest
9,353Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+13.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±2Highest
8% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
41.4±2.5
4% above MA
Middleton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
26.4%±5.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Rutland and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
14.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Middleton and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
42%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
Rutland and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$167,402±$29kHighest
61% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$145,707±$28k
40% 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
$742,700±$48kHighest
32% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$462,800±$33k
18% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,407±$284Highest
20% below MA
$1,155±$27
34% below MA
$1,078±$170Lowest
39% below MA
Middleton and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,785Highest
47% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$5,657
6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.7%±25.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.8%±26.7
MA: 51.8%
Fall River and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
2.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
22 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1990Highest
26 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
3% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
Work from home
12.5%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16.1%±5Highest
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 #71 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #150 of 282 in MA
School district Middleton Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Wachusett
High school in town None in town B M C Durfee High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3
—
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.