Compare towns
Rochester vs Mendon vs Wareham vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).
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 | Mendon | Wareham | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
6,325 |
23,302 |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 16% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Wareham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 16% above MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| 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 19% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Mendon and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 9% above MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Mendon-Upton | Wareham | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.