Compare towns
Plympton vs Mendon 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%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Mendon | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935 |
6,325Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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%±5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Plympton 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest 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% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Mendon 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 |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628 11% above MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plympton | Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.