Compare towns
Plympton vs Newfields vs Oakham vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plympton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Oakham has the most renters (8.4% rent).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Newfields | Oakham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,935 |
2,023 |
1,639Lowest |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plympton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton and Ashby 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 57% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $517,800±$52k 56% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plympton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plympton | Newfields School District | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.