Compare towns
Plympton vs Hanson 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 the most people working from home (19.3%).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Hanson | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935 |
10,660Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% 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 | 21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 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+ | 38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Oakham 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 |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Hanson 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±$52k 8% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Hanson and Plympton 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 |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Hanson and Oakham 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plympton | Whitman-Hanson | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.