Compare towns
Middleton vs Ogunquit vs Ayer vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Rutland has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Ayer | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,645 |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rutland and Ayer 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 107% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28k 80% 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 | $742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$462,800±$33kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rutland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.