The Town FilesRockland, Massachusetts
Town in Plymouth County · population 17,803 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $472,900
- Household income
- $112,405
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 40.7
Rockland is a town of 17,803 people in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $472,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks easier by car than 89% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 86% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 82% of Massachusetts towns.
How Rockland ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rockland is worth $472,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $112,405, which is more affordable than 65% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,610 a month. 76.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockland | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $472,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,610 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $112,405 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 76.5% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rockland
| People | Rockland | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.7% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 33.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Rockland
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 52.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.9 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockland since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 18, 2023 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 6, 1999.
Severe weather in Plymouth County since 1996
Plymouth County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Plymouth County
Plymouth County had 194,985 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,858 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Rockland itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Rockland
5 public schools with 2,491 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| John W Rogers Middle | 5-8 | 697 | 11.4 |
| Phelps Elementary School | 1-4 | 640 | 14.2 |
| Rockland Senior High | 9-12 | 577 | 12.0 |
| Thomas W. Hamilton Primary School | K-5 | 351 | 12.5 |
| R Stewart Esten | PK-K | 226 | 11.3 |
Towns near Rockland
- Abington, MA2.6 mi · 17,062 people · home $539,600
- Hanover, MA2.7 mi · 14,833 people · home $755,400
- Whitman, MA3.8 mi · 15,121 people · home $472,700
- Holbrook, MA4.6 mi · 11,405 people · home $465,400
- Norwell, MA5.2 mi · 11,351 people · home $865,700
- Weymouth Town, MA5.7 mi · 57,437 people · home $552,100
- Hanson, MA5.9 mi · 10,639 people · home $533,900
- East Bridgewater, MA6.6 mi · 14,440 people · home $510,200
Rockland questions
Is Rockland, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockland scores better for retirees than 14% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 27%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Rockland?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockland is valued at $472,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,405, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,610 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockland?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and 50.9 inches of snow.
Does Rockland get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 18, 2023. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)