Compare towns
Halifax vs Hardwick vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Halifax | Hardwick | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
2,684Lowest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Plympton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
| Plympton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Quabbin | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.