Compare towns
Rockland vs Upton vs Sutton vs Norwell
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 renters (23.5% rent).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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 | Upton | Sutton | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,701Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Norwell and Sutton 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Norwell and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487Lowest 8% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Norwell |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.