Compare towns
Middleton vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.
| Measure | Middleton | Thompson | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
9,337Lowest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170 24% below U.S. |
| 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 182% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Rutland 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Thompson School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.