Compare towns
Rockland vs Canton vs Middleborough
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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Middleborough has the shortest commute (31 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 | Rockland | Canton | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701Lowest |
24,748Highest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.4±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Middleborough and Canton 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton 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% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Canton 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% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Canton and Middleborough 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 |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487 8% above MA |
$6,560Highest 9% above MA |
$6,023Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #175 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Canton High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
13.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.