Compare towns
Plympton vs Pembroke 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Pembroke | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935 |
18,382Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
45.5±3.3Lowest 14% 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% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Pembroke 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% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Pembroke 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 |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Pembroke 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 |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Pembroke 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 |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628Highest 11% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Pembroke 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% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plympton | Pembroke | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.