Compare towns

Plympton vs Pawtucket vs Oakham

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 people working from home (19.3%).
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).

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.

MeasurePlymptonPawtucketOakham
People
Population
2,935
75,893Highest
1,639Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.2
19% above U.S.
37.1±0.8Lowest
5% below U.S.
49±2.3Highest
26% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pawtucket and Plympton 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%
14.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawtucket 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±$20kHighest
57% above U.S.
$68,310±$4kLowest
15% below U.S.
$102,000±$20k
26% above U.S.
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
56% above U.S.
$325,500±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$420,100±$20k
26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$555±$148Lowest
61% below U.S.
$1,208±$39Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,628Highest
113% above U.S.
$4,115
32% above U.S.
$4,103Lowest
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±40.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±4.4
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plympton and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #35 of 38 in RI —
School district Plympton Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket Quabbin
High school in town None in town William E. Tolman High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.6
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.