Compare towns
Middleton vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Middleton | Gardner | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
21,148Highest |
9,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Gardner and Middleton 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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Middleton 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Middleton and Gardner 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Gardner | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
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| 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.