Cost of Living in Plymouth County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Plymouth County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Plymouth County ranks #3,068 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 2%)
Sourced county brief
Plymouth County Median Rent to Income Percentage Reaches 32.5%
In Plymouth County, the official ACS B25071 GRAPI, which measures median gross rent as a percentage of household income, was 32.5% according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. This percentage is 0.8 percentage points higher than the Massachusetts unweighted county mean for official GRAPI of 31.7%. The median renter-household income in the county was estimated at $54,822, while the median gross rent was $1,747 per month. This monthly rent is $131 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $1,616. For homeowners, the median home value was $556,000, which is $78,257 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $634,257. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $2,280, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $2,087. The median household income for all households in the county was $114,201. These figures represent the documented housing costs and income levels for the period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Plymouth County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.5% of renter household income in Plymouth County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,747 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,280. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $69,880 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Plymouth County's $1,747 median is 8.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Plymouth County
Rent Burden
18.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,665
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.0%
of gross income
The median home in Plymouth County may be a stretch
Median home value is $556,000. Estimated monthly cost: $4,439 vs. your max of $2,665.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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