What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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	7,035Highest	2,239Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S.	48.1±4.1Lowest 24% 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%	20.5%±3.8Highest 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%	21.6%±5.9Lowest 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%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±3.6Highest 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.	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S.	$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above 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.	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±47.2Lowest 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%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 53% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	22.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rockland and Sutton 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	—
School district	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13	Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town	Oceanside High School	Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	10.4Lowest
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.