Compare towns
Halifax vs Rutland 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 homeowners (95.5%).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Rutland | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
9,353Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton and Halifax 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% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland 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 |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Rutland and Plympton 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 |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,078±$170 39% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Wachusett | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.