Compare towns
Plympton vs Needham vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,371 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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%±5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$123,500±$24kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$371,600±$18kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$953±$206 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,716Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Hubbardston 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #110 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plympton | Needham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.