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Abington, MA

Abington, MA

Aerial view of central Abington, Massachusetts, a town of 17,062 residents in Plymouth... · Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

A town of about 17,008 people in Plymouth County, part of the Boston area. Resident comments and photos are about Abington; job numbers cover the wider area.

The Boston area:College town · College teaching jobs 2.0x the U.S. shareHealthcare and research hub · Healthcare and science jobs 1.6x the U.S. share

Abington at a glance

Each grade compares this area with all 813 U.S. metro and small-town areas: A is the top 20%, F the bottom 20%. Cost compares everyday prices with the U.S. average. Varro doesn't grade safety; crime facts are further down. Graded on the Boston area's numbers.

F
Cost
Everyday prices about 8% above the U.S. average
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index, 2024
F
Housing
Typical home value is about 5.6 times the typical household's yearly income ($646,300 vs $115,863)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
C
Getting around
Average commute 30 minutes; 17% walk, bike or take transit to work
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
A
Things to do
5,485 restaurants, museums, theaters, music, game and book shops and historic places in the area (about 113 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023, National Register of Historic Places
A
Outdoors
85 hiking trails, 32 campgrounds and 213 paddling spots nearby
Public land: About 143,000 acres within 25 miles (11% of the area)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
OpenStreetMap contributors and federal recreation data; public land: USGS Protected Areas Database
C
Jobs
Unemployment 4.9%; jobs grew 0.4% in the last year
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A
Social life
3,515 bars, cafes, gyms, breweries and game shops in the area (about 72 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023
A
Healthcare
1.3 primary care doctors per 1,000 people in the main county; nearest emergency room about 1 mile from the center
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
County Health Rankings 2025; Medicare Care Compare
A
Schools
Public school test pass rates about 6 points above the state average (1052 schools)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Department of Education, 2021-22 (compared within the state only)
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What kind of place it is

Outdoorsy, Big-city feel, Lively

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Abington scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Outdoorsy
99 / 100
Outdoorsy: more trails, campgrounds and paddling spots than most
"Lawn on D · Kayak/Sail on the Charles River · Visit the Boston Harbor Islands" A resident, Reddit
Big-city feel
99 / 100
Big-city feel: 4.9 million people in the metro, 122 buildings 20+ stories, 4,381 bus and train stops
"It's been difficult to leave friends and" A resident, Reddit
Lively
92 / 100
Lively: 5,171 bars, sit-down restaurants and music businesses in the area (about 106 per 100,000 people)
"Druid, Burren (music), Old Mcgouns and Silhouette are some of my favorite dive bars in the area." A resident, Reddit
Artsy
77 / 100
238 museums, art galleries and theater companies in the area; arts jobs 1.1x the U.S. share
Historic
74 / 100
105 places on the National Register of Historic Places nearby
"People are, by and large, very friendly there (the masshole stereotype is very overplayed)" A resident, Reddit
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Around Abington

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
Abington
Abington in Massachusetts
Massachusetts in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Abington's center.

9
grocery stores
45
restaurants
13
coffee shops
140
parks
68
playgrounds
13
libraries
1
movie theater
5
museums
13
bookstores
3
gyms
4
bars
4
pharmacies
2
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Stores nearby

Membership warehouses and popular grocery stores, measured from the center of Abington.
Costco
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
3 within 15 miles, nearest about 6 miles
Sam's Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
Nearest about 49 miles
BJ's Wholesale Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
5 within 15 miles, nearest about 6 miles
Trader Joe's
3 within 15 miles, nearest about 6 miles
Whole Foods Market
3 within 15 miles, nearest about 4 miles
Wegmans
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 12 miles
Target
9 within 15 miles, nearest about 2 miles
Aldi
2 within 15 miles, nearest about 5 miles
Not within 50 miles: Sprouts Farmers Market.
Straight-line miles, so the drive is longer. Store locations from each chain's own store finder, collected by the open-data project All the Places, October 2026.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Abington.

Bike lanes and bike paths
18 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
97 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
0
Bus stops within 5 miles
563
Nearest train or subway station
Abington
about 1 mile
Closest rail and ferry stops
  • Abington · Train station · about 1 mile
  • South Weymouth · Train station · about 3 miles
  • Whitman · Train station · about 3 miles
  • Montello · Train station · about 3 miles
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital in Brockton, about 3 miles away in a straight line.

Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital
Brockton, MA · about 3 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
South Shore Hospital
South Weymouth, MA · about 4 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 2 of 5
Good Samaritan Medical Center
Brockton, MA · about 6 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 2 of 5
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton
Milton, MA · about 11 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 4 of 5
In the county, compared with Massachusetts and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
0.6
per 1,000 people · Massachusetts: 1.0 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
0.7
per 1,000 people · Massachusetts: 1.1 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
6.5
per 1,000 people · Massachusetts: 7.7 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
2.4%
Massachusetts: 2.9% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Typical rent by size
$1,302
1 bedroom
$2,558
2 bedrooms
$3,501
3 bedrooms
Living alone: about $1,302 a month for a 1-bedroom
With one roommate: about $1,280 each for a 2-bedroom

Middle (median) rent, Census American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 (table B25031). Includes utilities the renter pays. The roommate figure splits the rent evenly. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

Of about 1,625 rented homes in Abington, 71% rent for under $2,000 a month and 91% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 20%
$1,000 to $1,499: 28%
$1,500 to $1,999: 23%
$2,000 to $2,499: 10%
$2,500 to $2,999: 10%
$3,000 or more: 9%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Abington rents for $1,500 to $1,999 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $3,000 to $3,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $4,500 to $5,997 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,500 to $1,999, that's a yearly income of about $54,000 to $71,964.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Massachusetts: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Massachusetts DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Massachusetts voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

30 public school districts in this county, with about 77,214 students in all. The county also has 3 public charter schools and 27 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

South Shore Charter Public SchoolRising Tide Charter Public SchoolNew Heights Charter School of BrocktonAbington HighAbington Middle SchoolWoodsdale Elementary SchoolBeaver Brook ElementaryAbington Early Education ProgramBridgewater-Raynham RegionalMitchell Elementary SchoolWilliams Intermediate SchoolBridgewater Middle SchoolBrockton HighBrookfieldDowneyDr W Arnone Community SchoolEast Middle SchoolEdgar B DavisHancockGilmore Elementary SchoolJohn F KennedyNorth Middle SchoolOscar F RaymondSouth Middle SchoolWest Middle SchoolLouis F Angelo ElementaryMary E. Baker SchoolManthala George Jr. SchoolAshfield Middle SchoolPlouffe Middle SchoolEdison Evening AcademyBarrett Russell Early Childhood CenterBrockton Virtual Learning AcademyPromise College and Career AcademyEdison Day AcademyChandler ElementaryDuxbury HighAlden SchoolDuxbury MiddleCentralEast Bridgewater Jr./Sr. High SchoolGordon W. Mitchell SchoolHalifax ElementaryCedar ElementaryCenter ElementaryHanover HighHanover MiddleHingham HighPlymouth RiverSouth ElementaryHingham Middle SchoolWm L Foster ElementaryEast Elementary SchoolHull HighLillian M JacobsMemorial MiddleKingston ElementaryKingston IntermediateEames Way SchoolDaniel WebsterMartinson ElementaryGov Edward WinslowMarshfield HighFurnace Brook MiddleSouth RiverMarshfield Public Schools Early Childhood CenterMemorial Early Childhood CenterGrace Farrar ColeNorwell HighNorwell Middle SchoolWilliam G VinalBryantville ElementaryHobomock ElementaryNorth Pembroke ElementaryPembroke Community Middle SchoolPembroke High SchoolPlymouth Early Childhood CenterPlymouth North HighCold SpringHedgeManomet ElementaryNathaniel Morton ElementaryWest ElementaryPlymouth Commun IntermediateDennett ElementaryR Stewart EstenJohn W Rogers MiddleRockland Senior HighPhelps Elementary SchoolCushing ElementaryGates Middle SchoolHatherly ElementaryScituate High SchoolJenkins Elementary SchoolWampatuck ElementarySilver Lake Regional Middle SchoolSilver Lake Regional HighSpring Street SchoolHoward SchoolRose L MacdonaldWest Bridgewater Junior/SeniorLouise A ConleyJohn H DuvalWhitman MiddleHanson Middle SchoolIndian HeadWhitman Hanson RegionalThe Pre-School Academy at Whitman HansonCardinal Cushing Centers (private)St Bridget School (private)St Paul Elementary School (private)Notre Dame Academy (private)Cardinal Spellman High School (private)Old Colony Montessori School (private)Inly School (private)Anchor Academy (private)Hope Christian School (private)Woodside School & Community Resource Center (private)South Shore Conservatory of Music Preschool (private)Elements Montessori (private)Samuel Fuller School (private)The Peanut Gallery (private)Su Escuela Language Academy/Sela the International (private)Brockton Area Sda Academy (private)The Accord School (private)Derby Academy (private)High Road School of Ma (private)Fusion Hingham (private)Fl Chamberlain School (private)Bay Farm Montessori Academy (private)The Ridge Hill School (private)SUFFOLK COUNTYPLYMOUTH COUNTYBRISTOL COUNTYNORFOLK COUNTYAbington
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Abington: Abington School District
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Abington

Elementary
Abington Middle School0.2 mi
Public
grades 5 to 8 · 636 students · 13.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 49%, math 37% (state: reading 44%, math 41%)
Beaver Brook Elementary0.7 mi
Public
grades K to 2 · 506 students · 13.7 per teacher
Woodsdale Elementary School1.3 mi
Public
grades 3 to 4 · 352 students · 17.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 52%, math 52% (state: reading 44%, math 41%)
Middle
Abington Middle School0.2 mi
Public
grades 5 to 8 · 636 students · 13.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 49%, math 37% (state: reading 44%, math 41%)
John W Rogers Middle2.2 mi
Public
grades 5 to 8 · 697 students · 11.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 41%, math 36% (state: reading 44%, math 41%)
Ashfield Middle School2.2 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 517 students · 14 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 24%, math 22% (state: reading 44%, math 41%)
High school
Abington High0.2 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 561 students · 11.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 60 to 64%, math 50 to 54% (state: reading 44%, math 41%)
Rockland Senior High2.2 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 577 students · 12 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 50 to 54%, math 30 to 34% (state: reading 44%, math 41%)
Whitman Hanson Regional4.0 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,039 students · 14.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 51%, math 48% (state: reading 44%, math 41%)
Private
St Bridget School1.0 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 196 students · 16.3 per teacher
Cardinal Spellman High School2.4 mi
Private
grades 9 to 12 · 466 students · 13.9 per teacher
Brockton Area Sda Academy3.4 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 74 students · 10.6 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Abington, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Massachusetts's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

Abington · Abington
2,177 students · 14.2 students per teacher · 5 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Brockton · Brockton
14,999 students · 13.7 students per teacher · 24 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Plymouth · Plymouth
7,205 students · 11.3 students per teacher · 13 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

School choice and pre-K in Massachusetts

Going to school in another district
State law lets each district decide whether to take students from other districts. Some do, some don't; ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law doesn't set a rule for switching schools within a district; it's up to each district.
Free state pre-K
30% of 4-year-olds and 16% of 3-year-olds in Massachusetts attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

Special education in Massachusetts

Federal rating for the state: Meets requirements
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates Massachusetts as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read Massachusetts's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rank single schools. The area's Schools grade at the top of the page compares its test pass rates with the rest of the state only. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Massachusetts keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$352/week
about $18,300 a year
$275/week
about $14,300 a year
Toddler (2)$320/week
about $16,600 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$270/week
about $14,000 a year
$250/week
about $13,000 a year
School-age$210/week
about $10,900 a year

For an infant at a center: $352/week here, $440 across MA, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 14% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in Massachusetts →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

64 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Abington. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Bridgewater State University · Bridgewater
Public, 4-year · 9,550 students · $11,389 in-state, $17,529 out-of-state
Massasoit Community College · Brockton
Public, 2-year (community college) · 5,029 students · $5,376 in-state, $10,320 out-of-state
Boston University · Boston (metro)
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 36,624 students · $65,168 a year
Northeastern University · Boston (metro)
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 31,159 students · $63,141 a year
Harvard University · Cambridge (metro)
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 30,386 students · $59,076 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$725,639
What a typical home sells for across the Boston area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 8% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $108 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 108.3 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Drive to the nearest big job hub
About 1 hr 0 min at rush hour
To downtown Boston, MA, 21 miles. About 37 min with no traffic.
Source: Google traffic estimate for a weekday morning around 8am
Average commute
31 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
None within 15 miles
No mapped data center buildings near the town center.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $2,134 a year
The 2023 statewide average for a standard homeowners policy in MA (U.S. average: $1,737). Prices have gone up since, and your own quote will depend on the home.
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Very Low
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
2 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
19.7 per 100,000 people a year
107 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. MA average: 18.5 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 33.2 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 1,799 people without housing in the Quincy, Brockton, Weymouth, Plymouth City and County area: 1,725 in shelters and 74 outside, down from 1,885 in 2024. MA: 39.7 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Unemployment
4.2%
The share of people looking for work who can't find it, averaged over the year. U.S.: about 4%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
Median household income
$109,698
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.24% of home value a year
About $1,240 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 9%
MA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026

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