Compare towns
Middleborough vs Plainfield 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 oldest population (median age 43.4).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Rockland has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Plainfield | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505Highest |
15,141Lowest |
17,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.7±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$112,405±$12kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rockland and Middleborough 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below 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±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,610±$255 14% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 93% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,487Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rockland and Middleborough 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Plainfield School District | Rockland |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Plainfield High School | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.3Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.