Compare towns
Hanson vs Oakham 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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k median).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Oakham | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
1,639Lowest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
| Oakham and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Hanson and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Oakham 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 | Whitman-Hanson | Quabbin | Plympton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.