Compare towns

Plympton vs Douglas vs Carver

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Carver has the most affordable homes ($434k 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.

MeasurePlymptonDouglasCarver
People
Population
2,935Lowest
9,207
11,712Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.2Highest
16% above MA
44±2.6Lowest
10% above MA
45.9±3.5
15% above MA
Plympton and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Plympton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±5
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Carver and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
28.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,736±$20k
22% above MA
$152,267±$10kHighest
46% above MA
$91,250±$23kLowest
12% below MA
Douglas and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$517,800±$52kHighest
8% below MA
$470,600±$29k
16% below MA
$434,200±$21kLowest
23% below MA
Plympton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$555±$148Lowest
69% below MA
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$1,827±$345Highest
4% above MA
Carver and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,628Highest
11% above MA
$6,338Lowest
6% above MA
$6,455
8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±40.6
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55%±23.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Carver and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1980Lowest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±6
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Douglas 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 #110 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA #237 of 282 in MA
School district Plympton Douglas Carver
High school in town None in town Douglas High School Carver Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
9.7Highest
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.