Compare towns
Hanson vs North 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
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Plympton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 Reading | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
15,765Highest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton and Hanson 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading 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±$24kLowest 15% above MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| North Reading and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Lowest 7% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Reading | Plympton |
| High school in town | — | North Reading High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.