Compare towns
Hanson vs Newfields vs Plympton vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k median).
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 | Hanson | Newfields | Plympton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
2,023 |
2,935Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 48% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20k 57% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 54% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52k 56% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 106% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plympton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Plympton 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #110 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Newfields School District | Plympton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.