Compare towns
Rochester vs Sutton vs Mendon vs West Wareham
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%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Sutton | Mendon | West Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837 |
2,239Lowest |
6,325Highest |
2,257 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
57.6±13Highest 48% above U.S. |
| West Wareham and Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$58,560±$15kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Sutton 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. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$230,800±$104kLowest 31% below 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 |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Mendon and Sutton 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$4,765Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
90.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Wareham and Mendon 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Wareham 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 | — | #210 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Kearsarge Regional School District | Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— | — |
| 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.