Compare towns
Plympton vs Douglas vs Hubbardston
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%).
Hubbardston has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Plympton | Douglas | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935Lowest |
9,207Highest |
4,371 |
| 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±4.2 16% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
46.8±9.1Highest 17% above MA |
| Hubbardston and Plympton 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% |
17.8%±4Lowest 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%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Hubbardston 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% |
33.7%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%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Hubbardston 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 |
$123,500±$24kLowest 19% above 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 |
$371,600±$18kLowest 34% 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±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$953±$206 46% below MA |
| Douglas and Hubbardston 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 |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$4,716Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hubbardston 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% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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 | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plympton | Douglas | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.