Compare towns
Halifax vs Windham vs Plympton vs Pembroke
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 youngest population (median age 41.9).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Plympton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Windham | Plympton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
594Lowest |
2,935 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Pembroke 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 47% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20k 57% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke 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 45% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52k 56% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
— | $555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and Windham 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 | — | #110 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Plympton | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.