Compare towns
Bath vs Dedham vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
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 | Bath | Dedham | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
25,237Highest |
7,035Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Rockland and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockland and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,092±$105 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,059 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1948 32 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rockland and Dedham 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #96 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Dedham | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Dedham High | Oceanside High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.