Compare towns
Halifax vs Mapleton vs Thompson vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Mapleton | Thompson | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,884Lowest |
9,337Highest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Thompson School District | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.