Compare towns
Hanson vs North Brookfield vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Hanson | North Brookfield | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
4,760Highest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| North Brookfield and Plympton 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 15% above MA |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
| Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $981±$63Highest 44% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Brookfield and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and North Brookfield 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Brookfield | Plympton |
| High school in town | — | North Brookfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 5.5 |
— |
| 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.