Compare towns
Rochester vs Wareham vs Upton vs Southampton
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%).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Wareham | Upton | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
23,302Highest |
8,189 |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 16% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.4±3.5Lowest 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Southampton 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Southampton 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Upton and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
| Rochester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743 19% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— |
| Wareham and Rochester 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Wareham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Southampton |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Wareham Senior High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
8.6Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.