Compare towns
Halifax vs Needham 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 most affordable homes ($482k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plympton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Needham | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
32,459Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,628Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Needham | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
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| 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.