Compare towns
Rockland vs Athol vs Uxbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockland has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Uxbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Rockland | Athol | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701Highest |
12,011Lowest |
14,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
41.7±2.8Highest 4% above MA |
| Uxbridge and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Uxbridge and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,405±$12k 8% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$124,725±$7kHighest 20% above MA |
| Uxbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21kHighest 16% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
| Rockland and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255Highest 9% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,555±$265 12% below MA |
| Rockland and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487Highest 8% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,836 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Uxbridge and Rockland 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 | #175 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Athol-Royalston | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Athol High | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.