Compare towns
Plympton vs Fairhaven vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plympton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k 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 | Fairhaven | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935 |
15,903Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2Lowest 16% above MA |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Fairhaven 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 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+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven 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% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Plympton and Oakham 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 |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Plympton and Fairhaven 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 |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Fairhaven 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 |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Fairhaven 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plympton | Fairhaven | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Fairhaven High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.