Compare towns

Whitman vs Plympton vs Brockton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

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.

MeasureWhitmanPlymptonBrockton
People
Population
15,295
2,935Lowest
105,386Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.4±1.8
about the MA average
46.4±4.2Highest
16% above MA
36.7±0.8Lowest
8% below MA
Plympton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±5
MA: 19.4%
25.3%±1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Brockton and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.3%
MA: 47.3%
38.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
22.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Brockton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,933±$14k
5% above MA
$126,736±$20kHighest
22% above MA
$80,115±$3kLowest
23% below MA
Plympton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$472,700±$12k
16% below MA
$517,800±$52kHighest
8% below MA
$437,500±$8kLowest
22% below MA
Plympton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,771±$151Highest
about the MA average
$555±$148Lowest
69% below MA
$1,641±$52
7% below MA
Whitman and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,824
about the MA average
$6,628Highest
11% above MA
$4,820Lowest
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±13.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.8%±40.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
54.5%±4.2
MA: 51.8%
Whitman and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.3%
MA: 10%
13.5%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.4%
MA: 62.5%
93.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
24% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
32 minLowest
8% above MA
Work from home
10.8%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±6Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #191 of 282 in MA #110 of 282 in MA #279 of 282 in MA
School district Whitman-Hanson Plympton Brockton
High school in town None in town None in town Brockton High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
17.0
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.