Compare towns
Middleborough vs Sutton vs Upton vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Rockland has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Sutton | Upton | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505Highest |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
17,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton 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 7% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$112,405±$12k 8% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,610±$255 9% below MA |
| Middleborough and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,487 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Rockland |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.