What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Oakham	Plympton
People
Population	1,639Lowest	2,935Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA	46.4±4.2Lowest 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	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plympton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.3Lowest 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+	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average	$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA
	Plympton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA	$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA	$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA	$6,628Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Plympton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	10.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	93.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest 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	—	#110 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Plympton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.