Compare towns
Rochester vs Hampton vs Wareham vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Middleborough has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Rochester | Hampton | Wareham | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
10,101 |
23,302 |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
52.1±3.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Wareham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wareham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$90,383±$11kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,504±$180 6% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 109% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,341Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #272 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | — | Wareham | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | — | Wareham Senior High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | 8.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.