Compare towns
Halifax vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Plympton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Reading | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
25,612Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Halifax 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Plympton 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,628Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Halifax 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Plympton |
| High school 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.