Compare towns
Middleton vs Sheldon 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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Sheldon | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
2,267Lowest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Middleton and Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% 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%±27Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.