Compare towns
Middleton vs Townsend vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Townsend | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
9,100Lowest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.5 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$145,707±$28k 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Townsend and Middleton 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 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 |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | North Middlesex | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.