Compare towns
Rochester vs Hampton vs Wareham vs Mendon
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 (21.7%).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Rochester | Hampton | Wareham | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
16,426 |
23,302Highest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.1±3.1 34% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest 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% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$90,383±$11kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31k 80% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rochester 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 |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,504±$180 6% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,341Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer 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. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Mendon 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #272 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Wareham | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Winnacunnet High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
10.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.