Compare towns
Whitman vs Ware vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Rockland has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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.
| Measure | Whitman | Ware | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
10,048Lowest |
17,701Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
40.7±3.3 about the MA average |
| Ware and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$112,405±$12kHighest 8% above MA |
| Rockland and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$472,900±$21kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rockland and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,610±$255 9% below MA |
| Whitman and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,487Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
76.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rockland and Ware 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Ware | Rockland |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.