Compare towns

Plympton vs Woonsocket vs Ashby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).

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.

MeasurePlymptonWoonsocketAshby
People
Population
2,935Lowest
43,521Highest
3,211
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.2
19% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
50.5±3Highest
30% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$115,598±$9k
43% above U.S.
Plympton and Ashby 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.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$390,500±$30k
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$555±$148Lowest
61% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,200±$484Highest
15% below U.S.
Ashby and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,628Highest
113% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$6,034
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±40.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±53.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plympton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Plympton and Ashby 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 #37 of 38 in RI #200 of 282 in MA
School district Plympton RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket North Middlesex
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.