Compare towns
Rockland vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k median).
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 | Needham | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701 |
32,459Highest |
13,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Needham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487 8% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #175 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | — | Millbury |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | — | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 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.