Compare towns

West Wareham vs Sutton vs Rochester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).

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.

MeasureWest WarehamSuttonRochester
People
Population
2,257Lowest
9,452Highest
5,837
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
57.6±13Highest
44% above MA
44.3±2.5Lowest
11% above MA
46.5±6
16% above MA
West Wareham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.8%±7.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±4.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
35%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.1%±4.2
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
43.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±4.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
West Wareham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,560±$15kLowest
44% below MA
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
$120,273±$12k
16% above MA
Sutton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$230,800±$104kLowest
59% below MA
$523,100±$47k
7% below MA
$599,100±$31kHighest
7% above MA
Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
$1,432±$743Highest
19% below MA
Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,765Lowest
20% below MA
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
$6,530
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
90.6%±37.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
39.1%±10.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
West Wareham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.9%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
88.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
18 yrs newer than MA
1981Lowest
17 yrs newer than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
23% below MA
30 min
about the MA average
37 minHighest
25% above MA
Work from home
17.7%±13.8
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.3%±3.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Sutton and West Wareham 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 — #105 of 282 in MA #104 of 282 in MA
School district — Sutton Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester
High school in town — Sutton High School Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6Highest
9.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.