What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Newfields	Rutland
People
Population	2,023Lowest	9,353Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.	41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Newfields and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	14.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rutland and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$145,707±$28kLowest 80% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$462,800±$33kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,657Lowest 81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rutland and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Lowest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	37 minHighest 40% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#150 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfields School District	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.