Compare towns
Rockland vs Dedham vs Whitman
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 homeowners (76.5%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701 |
25,237Highest |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Rockland 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Whitman 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Dedham 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±$21k 16% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487 8% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Dedham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.