Compare towns
Hanson vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Ripton | Plympton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
508Lowest |
2,935Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%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. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 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%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Plympton 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% |
48%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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 48% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 106% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% 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% |
90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 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. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plympton and Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Plympton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.