Compare towns
Plympton vs Reading vs Halifax vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Reading | Halifax | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,935Lowest |
25,612Highest |
7,748 |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby 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%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Halifax 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Plympton 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628 11% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Halifax 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #110 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plympton | Reading | Halifax | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.