Compare towns
Plympton vs Worcester vs Middleborough
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 highest household income ($127k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Worcester | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935 |
831Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plympton and Middleborough 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton and Middleborough 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middleborough 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Plympton 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plympton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Middleborough |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.