Massachusetts Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Rutland, Massachusetts

Population: 4,936

Located in Worcester County

Located high in the hills of Worcester County, 12 miles northwest of the City of Worcester and 52 miles west of Boston, Rutland holds the distinction of being the exact geographical center of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a tree marking the spot on Central Tree Road.

Despite some growing pains, as the trend toward development marches ever outward from the City of Worcester, Rutland remains a charming rural farming community. Of the four working farms in town, two are popular visiting sites: Overlook Farm, a 270-acre Heifer Project International farm, open to the public; and Alta Vista Farm, the home of Worcester County's only buffalo herd.

In neighboring and nearby towns, you can also find Saint Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, where the monks make and sell Trappist Preserves; in Princeton, the Wachusett Mountain Ski Resort, less than a half hour's drive from Rutland center; and Old Sturbridge Village, a living-history museum that re-creates the daily work activities and community life of a rural 19th-century town.

Rutland is a town where nature and conservation meet modern man. There is a farm that grows only organic products and offers lots of land to those interested in doing the same.

Residents feel the town has one of the loveliest town commons in Central Massachusetts and during the summer months, band concerts are held there. The population of Rutland has grown in recent years due to the influx of persons migrating from the cities in search of affordable housing.

Quabbin is the local watershed that hosts over a half million visitors each year from points all over the world. Thirty five hundred acres and thirteen miles of paved roads are available for public use. At the South end of the reservoir are the Winsor Dam and Goodnough Dike off Route 9 between Ware and Belchertown. This area is known as Quabbin Park. It offers hiking, magnificent vistas, picnicking, and an excellent opportunity to study nature. Bird watchers have observed many species including the Bald Eagle. In the Northern end at Gate 32, fishing, boating and hunting with a special permit are permissible.

Rutland, like the rest of Massachusetts, tends to be expensive when it comes to housing.
For buyers looking to trade their city lofts for country retreats, close-knit communities like Rutland are enticing options, but they came at a steep price. Historically, Rutland is a pricey community to buy into, as the array of real estate can be low and what is available can range anywhere from $300,000 to $1 million.

Rutland is a very desirable location, because there is an excellent school system, in a town that's close to the highways, yet off the beaten path. If this is what you are looking, then stop your search right here in rural Rutland.