Compare towns
Rockland vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Sutton | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701 |
9,452Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Sutton and Middleborough 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest 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%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below 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±$21k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$468,700±$18kLowest 17% 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±$255 9% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
| Middleborough and Rockland 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,023Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #175 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Sutton | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Sutton High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.