What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most people working from home (14.7%).

Wilbraham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Wilbraham
People
Population	17,701Highest	14,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA
	Wilbraham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Rockland 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%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wilbraham 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	$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA
	Wilbraham 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±$21kHighest 16% below MA	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,610±$255Highest 9% below MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
	Rockland and Wilbraham 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	$6,658Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	14.7%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Rockland and Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Rockland	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Rockland Senior High	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	14.2Highest
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.