5 things to know about living in Plymouth
The South Shore town known as “America’s hometown’’ offers more than just history.
You may have gone to Plymouth on a field trip to walk around the Plimoth Plantation (yes, it is spelled the historically accurate way) or to check out the famous (and disappointingly small) Plymouth Rock. In fact, it was in this town that the first Thanksgiving is said to have taken place in November 1621. But behind the history ingrained in “America’s hometown,’’ lies a quiet coastal town with lots to offer.
1. You’ll live in…
… a really old home. The Plymouth Historic District, an area along the water where homeowners must follow certain guidelines to preserve the historic architecture, has as variety of architectural styles.
You can still find some homes in the First Period and Colonial styles from 1620 to 1700, the Georgian style from the 1700s, and the Federal Style from the 1780s to the 1820s. There are Greek and Gothic Revival style homes from the mid-1800s, plus Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Shingle from the late 1800s. Finally, you’ll see Colonial Revival homes from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, and Classical Revival houses built through the 1950s.
2. You’ll pay…
… not as much as some other South Shore towns. The current Zillow Home Value Index puts Plymouth’s median home value at $314,400. That median has gone up 7.2 percent over the past year and Zillow predicts it will rise 3 percent within the next year.
For $300,000 to $400,000 you can get a range of homes in Plymouth, such as a luxury two-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 2,000-square-foot condo or a single-family home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
3. You’ll hang out…
… in some of the country’s original history. The Plimoth Plantation is the top-rated Trip Advisor thing to do in the town. You can see living history performances, a 17th century English village, the Wampanoag Homesite, and the Mayflower II. For more history, you can go to the Pilgrim Hall Museum, which is the nation’s oldest continuously operating public museum.
The South Shore town also has a variety of historic houses you can visit, including Plymouth’s oldest standing home from 1640, called the Sparrow House, which is now a pottery shop.
After all that walking, food will be a must, and Plymouth is not short on that. Plymouth has an active restaurant scene with numerous waterfront restaurants, plenty of which are seafood.
4. Your kids will…
… go to mostly above average schools. Most public schools in town are rated a 4 or above on the 1-10 GreatSchools rating, with two elementary schools receiving a 7. There are also plenty of activities at the Plimoth Plantation and other historical sites for kids to enjoy.
5. You’ll love…
…the many parks. Part of the Myles Standish State Forest, the largest publicly owned recreation area in southeastern Massachusetts, is in Plymouth. There are places to camp, 16 ponds, bike trails, equestrian trials, and hiking trails. Ellisville Harbor State Park, described as one of the most scenic spots on the South Shore coast, has places to walk, bird watch, and stroll along the beach.
The town also has a variety of golf courses, including many with scenic views.
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