Compare towns
Plympton vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935 |
25,612Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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%±5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628 11% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Reading 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #110 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plympton | Reading | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.