Compare towns
Carver vs Lancaster vs Wareham vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Plympton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Carver | Lancaster | Wareham | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,712 |
8,606 |
23,302Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
| Wareham and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23k 12% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Lancaster and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Lancaster and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345 4% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Lancaster and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455 8% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Plympton 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 | #237 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Nashoba | Wareham | Plympton |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.