Compare towns
Middleton vs Sharon 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 most expensive homes ($743k median).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Sharon | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
1,577Lowest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 107% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% 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±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Middleton and Sharon 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. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$5,657Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer 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 |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.