What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middleton	Rutland
People
Population	9,816Highest	9,353Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±2Highest 8% above MA	41.4±2.5Lowest 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%	26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Middleton and Rutland 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%	42%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$29kHighest 61% above MA	$145,707±$28kLowest 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	$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA	$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA
	Middleton and Rutland 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	$5,657Lowest 6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.8%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rutland and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 22 yrs newer than MA	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±3.4Lowest 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	#150 of 282 in MA
School district	Middleton	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.