What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plympton	Sterling
People
Population	2,935Lowest	3,629Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.4±4.2Highest 19% above U.S.	39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Plympton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sterling 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%	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sterling 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±$20kHighest 57% above U.S.	$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S.
	Plympton and Sterling 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.	$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$555±$148 61% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,628Highest 113% above U.S.	$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.8%±40.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plympton and Sterling 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%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plympton and Sterling 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	#119 of 149 in CT
School district	Plympton	Sterling School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.