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About Rochester, MA

About Rochester, MA

Historic rural community on the southern shores

Rochester is a rural community along the southern shores of Massachusetts. English Colonists first settled here back in 1679, with the land originally being called “Sippican,” named after the Native American tribe that lived here. The town of Rochester was incorporated in 1686 and originally thrived through shipbuilding and whaling in the nearby Mattapoisett Harbor. The towns of Marion and Mattapoisett separated themselves in the mid-1800s, landlocking Rochester and turning the town into a rural farming community. Today, the town is a “Right to Farm” community, encouraging agricultural-based opportunities and protecting farmlands. “It’s a step back in time,” says Michelle Humphrey, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, who’s been selling homes in Rochester for nearly five years. “Many families have been here for generations, it’s just an amazing community.”

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Neighbors have space and privacy in this community.
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Mattapoisett beach homes offer private docks.
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Variety of home ages, styles and sizes

The town has a mix of 20th-century rural homes with larger lot sizes and more recent developments along a traditional suburban grid structure with cul-de-sacs. Parts of the town are under construction restrictions requiring at least two acres of land for each home. “The leaders of the town are committed to keeping its charm,” says Humphrey. Homes here tend to stay on the market for about a month and prices vary heavily depending on the houses’ age and lot size. Older homes typically sell for between $500,000 to $800,000, while newer properties can sell for as much as $1.9 million.

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Center Village in Rochester, MA is a quiet community of free standing condos.
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Homes on this street are large in size with lots of land.
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Old Rochester Regional School District

The Old Rochester Regional School District serves the neighborhood’s students with a collection of well-rated schools. Kids may start at Rochester Memorial School, which earns a B-plus rating from Niche, for Pre-Kindergarten to sixth grade, before transitioning to Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, which has a B rating, for seventh and eighth grade. Students may then attend Old Rochester Regional High School, which gets a B-plus, for ninth to 12th grade. Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School is an alternative schooling option in town. Tabor Academy is a private school option in the nearby town of Marion that has an A-plus Niche rating and is ranked as the best private high school in Plymouth County.

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RMS serves breakfast & lunch to students while in school, regardless of their economic status.
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The Center School ensures a caring and safe environment for all school community members.
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Hiking trails, campgrounds and the beach

There’s an abundance of hiking trails in town, including the East Over Reservation, Lionberger Woods and the Shoolman Nature Preserve. Snipatuit Pond, Mary’s Pond and Leonards Pond are just a few of the popular fishing and kayaking spots nearby. There are also several campgrounds in the area like Thousand Trails Gateway to Cape Cod and Camp Hadley. Mattapoisett Town Beach is a sliver of sandy coast 7 miles south of town with ample parking, bathrooms and a small playground.

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Rochester residents go to Mattapoisett Town Beach to relax.
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Enjoy the peace and nature in Rochester, Massachusetts.
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Wareham Crossing and popular local businesses

Wareham Crossing is the closest shopping center, located 7 miles east of Rochester. The shopping center has a Walmart Supercenter, Target and ALDI for groceries. There are plenty of other chain stores like Lowe’s Home Improvement, JCPenney and HomeGoods. Friends Marketplace at Plumb Corner and Lloyd’s Market are additional locally-owned grocers in town. There are also popular local restaurants in Rochester like Matt’s Blackboard for classic American eats and Ansel's Garden Café for sandwiches, salads and sweets.

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What the Taco is located at 1 Industrial Dr, Mattapoisett, MA.
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Salty the Seahorse is considered a symbol of Mattapoisett.
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Close to I-195 and I-495

Because of its rural layout, Rochester is heavily car-dependent. Interstate 195 runs just south of town and provides easy access to Providence in under an hour. Interstate 495 is also close by and can get commuters to Boston in under two hours. The South Coast Rail is currently under construction and brings a commuter train line from Boston to New Bedford. Passenger service is expected to begin in the Summer of 2024, with plans to extend the rail line all the way to Eastham on the Cape.

Logan Soter-Reardon
Written By
Logan Soter-Reardon
Fatima Johnson
Photography Contributed By
Fatima Johnson
Barry Ridgeway
Video By
Barry Ridgeway

Neighborhood Map

Rochester by the Numbers

5,772
Population
$712K
Average Housing Value
78
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Rochester, MA

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Old Hammondtown Elementary
#1 Old Hammondtown Elementary
A-
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Acushnet Elementary School
#2 Acushnet Elementary School
B+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Freetown Elementary School
#3 Freetown Elementary School
B+
Niche
Assawompset Elementary School
#4 Assawompset Elementary School
B
Niche
Center School
#5 Center School
B-
Niche
George R Austin Intermediate School
#6 George R Austin Intermediate School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Rochester Memorial School
#7 Rochester Memorial School
B-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Mary K. Goode Elementary School
#8 Mary K. Goode Elementary School
B-
Niche
5
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

Freetown-Lakeville Middle School
#1 Freetown-Lakeville Middle School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Albert F Ford Middle School
#2 Albert F Ford Middle School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

Apponequet Regional High School
#1 Apponequet Regional High School
B+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Old Rochester Regional High School
#2 Old Rochester Regional High School
B+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical
#3 Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical
B-
Niche
6
GreatSchools

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.