Rockland Question (Brockton, Weymouth, Plymouth: low income, sex offender, crime)

[ashaway12]

Me and my girlfriend are close to putting an offer in on a house in Rockland. I have read some of the reviews on this board and most are pretty negative towards Rockland. Can anyone explain why? The place we are looking at is in a nice little quiet neighborhood, and looking at the crime stats they seem pretty low. Thnaks for everyones help.

[DorrieMA]

my sister and her family lived there for many years. I never heard of anything bad around in her area. As always I guess there are good sections and not so good sections. When I was there it was always a nice place, quiet neighborhood. Actually, in the area she lived, THEY were the problem there. GOOD LUCK

[AbsoluteFloors]

There was a recently killing at a Rockland convenience store that involved an older man beating an Iraq war vet to death.
There's also been a couple of other odd incidents, but overall it's a fine town to live in. These violent acts do stick out as being odd because Rockland is otherwise a fairly quiet town.

I wouldn't think twice about moving there if it was in my future.

Good luck to you.

[Beachcomber4]

That killing happened in Abington, not Rockland. That having been said, there is a huge problem with drugs, many rooming houses with a transient population- one, next to a school and daycare housed a level 3 sex offender and another is notorious for drug problems. While these are known rooming houses, there are also many interspersed throughout residential neighborhoods and town officials do nothing about it. I know because a gorgeous antique home next to mine became one of these rooming houses. Be warned: whatever house you choose, do some drive bys at different times of the evening to see what type of activity is going on. I would also suggest you drive down town etc and see what goes on. The idea there are "good areas and bad" is not really accurate. The supposed nice part of town sees it's share of drug dealing and problems. There is a low income housing project that does have alot of problems but it's not just there.

Schools are not very good if you are thinking of kids in the future. Low MCAS scores and teachers having to spend alot of time disciplining rather than teaching. Technology which was once a source of pride in Rockland is now serverely lacking. THe sad truth is the majority of residents do not value education.

The town recently passed an override and is probably going to get a new middle school and renovated high school. That's great news. They also got a community redevelopment grant to spiff up downtown so there is good news there.


Sorry to be a downer. I truly believe you can make a nice life for yourself wherever you go. But I'd feel remiss if I didn't share with you my experiences living in town.

[seldomseen]

Rockland is decent...nothing great or very bad about it. It's typically known as "white trashy" do to folks spilling over from Brockton. But like every other "middle income" town, you have your good, decent and bad parts.

[kaioak36]

It's got a bad reputation. Not a good investment if you're trying to buy a house. Hanover or Pembroke would be better choices!

[DreamworksSKG]

Weymouth, Pembroke, Hanover, Kingston or Plymouth would be better choices