Compare towns
Plympton vs Upton vs Oakham vs Carver
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plympton has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Carver has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Upton | Oakham | Carver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,935 |
8,189 |
1,639Lowest |
11,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
45.9±3.5Lowest 15% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carver and Plympton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Carver 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$91,250±$23kLowest 12% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628 11% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,455 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carver and Upton 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
88.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #237 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plympton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin | Carver |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Carver Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.