Compare towns
Rockland vs Dedham vs Millbury
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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Dedham | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701 |
25,237Highest |
13,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Millbury 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Dedham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487 8% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Rockland 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Millbury 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Dedham | Millbury |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Dedham High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.