Compare towns
West Wareham vs Upton 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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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.
| Measure | West Wareham | Upton | Sutton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,257Lowest |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rochester 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% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rochester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,530 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% 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 |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.