Compare towns
Middleton vs Marblehead 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Marblehead | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
20,413Highest |
9,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$145,707±$28kLowest 40% above MA |
| Marblehead and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Marblehead and Middleton 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Marblehead | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.