Compare towns
Oakham vs Plympton vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Oakham | Plympton | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
2,935 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plympton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% above U.S. |
$6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plympton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Plympton | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.