Compare towns
Middleborough vs Exeter 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
Middleborough has the most homeowners (76.9%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Rockland has the most kids (20.2% 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 | Middleborough | Exeter | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505Highest |
16,151Lowest |
17,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.7±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockland and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,405±$12kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rockland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$472,900±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rockland and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,610±$255Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,487 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Rockland 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rockland |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Exeter High School | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.1 |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.