What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).

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	7,035Lowest	9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Rockland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rockland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	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	$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sutton and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rockland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 53% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	22.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Rockland 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	#96 of 133 in ME	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13	Sutton
High school in town	Oceanside High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.