What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most renters (23.5% rent).

Sutton 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rockland	Sutton
People
Population	17,701Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
	Sutton and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Rockland and Sutton 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%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Rockland 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%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sutton and Rockland 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	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	Sutton 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±$21kLowest 16% below MA	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
	Sutton and Rockland 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	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
	Rockland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,487Lowest 8% above MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Rockland and Sutton 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%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#175 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Rockland	Sutton
High school in town	Rockland Senior High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.