1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Plymouth County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $114,201. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Plymouth County
- The Plymouth County job picture
- Household income in Plymouth County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Plymouth County
- Counties near Plymouth County
- Towns and communities in Plymouth County
- Budget math at the Plymouth County median
- Who lives in Plymouth County, in numbers
- Reading the Plymouth County data as a borrower
- Checklist for Plymouth County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Plymouth County
- More guides for Plymouth County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Plymouth County
Plymouth County is home to about 535,075 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 7th most populous of 14 county-level areas in Massachusetts. Land area is 659 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 813 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area. Of the 45 Census places inside Plymouth County, Brockton leads by population with about 105,386; 18 of the 45 are incorporated.
The Plymouth County job picture
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Plymouth County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Massachusetts, the county leans toward construction (8% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 27% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home.
| Where residents work | Plymouth County | Difference from Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | -1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.0% | -2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | +1.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Plymouth County
The median household income in Plymouth County is $114,201; statewide it is $103,960, so Plymouth County runs 10% above Massachusetts as a whole. In the state ranking that is 5th of 14.
| Band | Plymouth County | Compared with Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.5% | -3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 29.5% | -0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.7% | +3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 23.3% | +1.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 56% of Plymouth County households make $100,000 or more, and 14% make less than $35,000. Census counts 7.1% of Plymouth County residents in poverty, against 10.0% across Massachusetts. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.463 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Plymouth County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Plymouth County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,747 in Plymouth County versus $1,762 statewide. 55% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. Home values center on $556,000, or 4.9 years of median income. 78% of Plymouth County households own their home and 22% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1971.
| Cost | Plymouth County | Massachusetts figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,747/mo | $1,762/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $556,000 | $562,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.3% | 0.8% | n/a |
Because most Plymouth County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Counties near Plymouth County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 42 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Plymouth County; Norfolk County is highest at $130,739 and Bristol County lowest at $85,625. The list crosses into Rhode Island, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth County | - | $114,201 | $1,747/mo | 78% |
| Bristol County, MA | 24 mi | $85,625 | $1,245/mo | 62% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 26 mi | $130,739 | $2,149/mo | 69% |
| Suffolk County, MA | 28 mi | $95,631 | $2,129/mo | 36% |
| Bristol County, RI | 34 mi | $114,490 | $1,528/mo | 72% |
| Barnstable County, MA | 35 mi | $95,241 | $1,678/mo | 81% |
| Dukes County, MA | 42 mi | $125,786 | $1,277/mo | 82% |
Towns and communities in Plymouth County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 45 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 85% of Plymouth County residents live in one of the 45. Incomes vary by place: $216,250 at the median in Marshfield Hills, $58,560 in West Wareham. Median rent ranges from $555 in Plympton to $3,000 in South Duxbury. No Plymouth County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 45.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brockton | city | 105,386 | $80,115 | $1,641 | 16 mi |
| Bridgewater Town | city | 28,471 | $112,651 | $2,092 | 12 mi |
| Middleborough | town | 24,505 | $97,056 | $1,706 | 10 mi |
| Wareham | town | 23,302 | $90,383 | $1,504 | 16 mi |
| Pembroke | town | 18,382 | $146,285 | $2,464 | 6 mi |
| Rockland | town | 17,701 | $112,405 | $1,610 | 13 mi |
| Abington | CDP | 17,053 | $125,400 | $1,724 | 14 mi |
| Whitman | town | 15,295 | $108,933 | $1,771 | 12 mi |
| Hanover | town | 14,845 | $189,803 | $1,845 | 11 mi |
| East Bridgewater | town | 14,456 | $133,853 | $1,981 | 11 mi |
| Lakeville | town | 11,944 | $133,984 | $1,884 | 15 mi |
| Carver | town | 11,712 | $91,250 | $1,827 | 8 mi |
| Norwell | town | 11,361 | $188,699 | $2,215 | 13 mi |
| Hull | CDP | 10,138 | $115,485 | $2,081 | 25 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Plymouth County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Plymouth County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $9,517 gross per month ($114,201 / 12)
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,747)
- Under a 36% cap, $3,426 total minus rent leaves $1,679
- At 43%, room after rent is $2,345 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Plymouth County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Plymouth County, in numbers
42% of Plymouth County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 2.5%, against 2.6% for Massachusetts.
| Indicator | Plymouth County | All of Massachusetts | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 40.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.8% | 47.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 8.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.5% | 2.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 11.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 18.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 17.3% |
Reading the Plymouth County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Plymouth County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 27% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Plymouth County budgets.
- Consolidation math. With 56% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- 55% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Checklist for Plymouth County applicants
Steps that save money for Plymouth County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Massachusetts borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Plymouth County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Plymouth County, check the Massachusetts Division of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Massachusetts state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Plymouth County
The Massachusetts guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Plymouth County earn?
The median is $114,201; 56% earn $100,000 or more and 14% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Plymouth County rent compare with Massachusetts?
$1,747 locally, close to the state figure.
What are the biggest places in Plymouth County?
By population: Brockton, Bridgewater Town, Middleborough, Wareham, Pembroke. The county has 45 Census places in all.
Can Plymouth County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Massachusetts county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Plymouth County residents?
The Massachusetts Division of Banks licenses consumer lenders in Massachusetts; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.