Located on the South Shore of Massachusetts, Plymouth yields postcard New England coasts and a rich history. Known as “America’s Hometown,” Plymouth was settled by the Pilgrims in 1620, marking the beginning of the New England colonies. With sand-covered and rocky beaches, vast nature preserves and 40-mile proximity to Boston, the town treats its over 66,000 residents to countless outdoor opportunities within reach of big-city amenities.
The center of town has the feel of a typical New England seaside village. “Charming is the best way to describe the downtown area, and there’s a lot of culture there,” says Plymouth resident and Realtor Sue Villanueva with Coldwell Banker. “There are always lots of people shopping and walking around Main and Water streets.” Locally owned restaurants and boutiques line the sidewalks, with American flags and wooden blade signs protruding from the storefronts. Lamp posts are decorated with pole banners, advertising the next event or holiday, and antique homes have been converted into general stores and service buildings. The community’s pride in its heritage can be seen throughout the area, with historic landmarks, architecture that dates back to the 17th century and memorials on display.
Plymouth’s primary industry is tourism. Millions of visitors come each year, supporting thousands of jobs. Plymouth’s population grows by approximately 1,000 residents a year, and it is the largest town in the state. Beyond tourism, the biggest industries are healthcare at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, education and scientific research.
This vibrant blue sign welcomes you to Downtown Plymouth.
Known as “America’s Hometown,” Plymouth was settled by the Pilgrims in 1620.
Plymouth Long Beach is the perfect place to take your four-legged friend for a walk.
Tourists stop to pick out a souvenir whilst visiting the neighborhood of Downtown Plymouth.
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Getting outdoors in Plymouth during all four seasons
Plymouth has over 40 parks and recreation spaces and nine public beaches. The town has 37 miles of coastline, one of the longest stretches in Massachusetts, and nearly 30% of the land is protected open space. As a waterfront area, surrounded by Kingston, Cape Cod and Plymouth bays, boating is infused in the culture here. Captains often set sail at Plymouth Harbor, home to a busy marina and waterfront restaurants. The trails and beaches of Cape Cod are also a major draw for boaters and outdoor enthusiasts. “No matter where you live in Plymouth, it’s an easy commute to get to the two bridges leading to the Cape,” Villanueva says.
The Plymouth Long Beach peninsula and Myles Standish State Forest bring in the most activity throughout all four seasons. Anyone can visit the public Long Beach, including four-legged friends. Visitors can use the public restrooms or grab lunch and a drink at Sandy’s Snack Bar before heading farther down Ryder Way to the tip of the peninsula. Myles Standish State Forest, the second largest in Massachusetts, brings in hikers, campers, boaters and anglers. Inside the 12,000-acre forest are 16 lakes and ponds, 15 miles of bicycle paths, five camping sites and 35 miles of equestrian trails. The forest is also home to two wildlife areas, and during the summer, the park offers nature walks and cranberry bog explorations.
One of the most scenic spots in town, the 100-acre Ellisville Harbor State Park features a barrier beach, salt marsh and rolling meadows, which are popular for bird watching, swimming and fishing. Seasoned cyclists can ride the Pine Hills Mountain Biking Trails, offering nearly 70 deeply forested miles of rugged singletracks. The 481-acre Mass Audubon Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary is another local favorite for nature lovers. The preserve, converted from a cranberry farm, is the largest freshwater ecological restoration in the Northeast. The sanctuary has several miles of woodland trails and hands-on nature programs.
Golfers can access 11 courses throughout the town, with popular private options including Old Sandwich and Plymouth country clubs. Waverly Oaks Golf Club is one of the top public courses in the state and features an award-winning 18-hole course through 240 acres of natural hills.
Plymouth has over 37 miles of miles of coastline with nine public beaches.
Nearly 30% of the land in Plymouth is protected open space.
Fishermen of Plymouth have 16 lakes and ponds to choose from in Myles Standish State Forest.
Practice your short game at the Pinehills Golf Club courses in Plymouth.
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Pilgrims, parades and performing arts in Plymouth
Visitors come from all over the country to learn about Plymouth’s history and participate in community events. When the Pilgrims reached the town on the Mayflower, they landed at Plymouth Rock. The landmark sits under a Neo-Classical Revival-style portico, and the rock, along with the National Monument to the Forefathers, are the centerpieces of Pilgrim Memorial State Park. While it’s the smallest state park in Massachusetts, it gets the most traffic, with over 1 million visitors every year.
History buffs can explore deeper into the town’s past at the Pilgrim Hall Museum, one of the oldest operating museums in the country. Exhibits here spotlight English colonists and the history of the Wampanoag, the first indigenous people to inhabit the area. More adventures await at Plimoth Patuxet, an interactive history museum set in a recreation of the original Wampanoag Homesite and a 17th century English Village. The museum’s most famous attraction is the replica of the Mayflower, which is located in the Plymouth Harbor near the Pilgrim Memorial State Park.
While known for its history, the town also has a thriving arts scene. Plymouth Center for the Arts serves as a cultural hub, showcasing local and regional exhibitions. The center has held an annual art show for over 55 years, featuring work from all over the country. The largest concert venue, Plymouth Memorial Hall, hosts a variety of musical artists and recurring performances from the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra.
Holidays are a big deal here, with trick-or-treating on Main Street and Christmas tree lightings, but the largest celebrations take place on Thanksgiving. The week before the feast, the America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration parades down Water and Main streets with historic and festive floats, accompanied by marching bands. The Plimoth Patuxet Museum also puts on a Thanksgiving dinner experience with a waterfront festival.
A full size replica of the Mayflower is docked in downtown Plymouth.
Thousands of people line the streets of Plymouth Center for the Thanksgiving Parade.
Watch the historic reenactors march in the America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade.
Watch anything from an orchestra to an MMA fight at Plymouth Memorial Hall in Downtown Plymouth.
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Main shopping and dining districts of Plymouth
Most of the restaurants, convenience stores and shops can be found along Water Street or Court Street, which turns into Main. For big-box options, Villanueva says most residents head to Colony Place mall, which has over 50 storefronts for retail and groceries.
Plymouth’s location means award-winning seafood restaurants and markets, many of which sit along the Town Wharf. The family-owned Lobster Pound at Manomet Point is a Plymouth mainstay that has sold live lobster, chowder and crab cakes for 50 years.
Small, rustic pubs, fine dining and outdoor patios overlooking the water draw in many visitors throughout the warmer months. “During the spring, summer and early fall, there are a lot of tourists,” Villanueva says. “Locals tend to avoid downtown restaurants and find other spots scattered throughout town, but during the off season, they’ll come back.” While Plymouth may be known for its seafood, other cuisines, from French to Italian, offer a taste of everything.
Walk down Court St. in Downtown Plymouth for countless restaurant and shopping options.
Enjoy a drink at Tavern On The Wharf in Downtown Plymouth.
Support local artists at The Art Shoppe in Downtown Plymouth.
Wood's Seafood sits on the Town Wharf overlooking Plymouth Harbor.
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Countryside or waterfront housing in Plymouth
Neighborhoods closer to the state forests and farther inland tend to have a secluded feel, with fewer sidewalks and more privacy. Areas downtown and villages closer to the water are often walkable and foster a community feel.
Cape Cods, colonials and contemporary builds on various acreages fill Plymouth’s villages, points and coves. Historic gambrel-style homes, 17th and 18th-century farmhouses and sprawling waterfront estates with carriage houses also come up on the market. The smallest single-family properties, like two-to-three-bedroom cabins and ranch styles, sell between $300,000 and about $600,000. Homes ranging from $750,000 to over $2 million usually sit on multiple acres of land or have waterfront access.
Condos provide a more affordable housing option in waterfront complexes, 55-plus communities in the countryside and along golf courses. These condos tend to fall between $200,000 and $500,000, while townhouses typically sell a bit higher, often running from $450,000 to $700,000. Luxury units with pools and private beach access can surpass $1 million.
Historic homes in downtown Plymouth can date back to the 17th and 18th-century.
Sprawling modern farmhouses can be found in Plymouth.
Cozy beach cottages line the shores along Plymouth Bay.
Newly constructed condo buildings can be found throughout Plymouth.
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Education options near Plymouth
Plymouth Public Schools serves the area and operates 14 schools, including a preschool and an alternative high school. The district earns an overall B grade on Niche, with an A for clubs and activities. Students can choose from dozens of clubs, like philosophy and photography, and various athletic programs, including Special Olympics Unified Sports teams.
Families can opt for private elementary schools outside of town, like A-plus-rated Bay Farm Montessori Academy in Duxbury, about 7 miles away. Private middle and high schools, like Milton Academy, are farther away and have boarding options. Milton earns an A-plus and holds the No. 1 spot on Niche’s list of Best Private K-12 Schools in Massachusetts.
University-bound students wanting to stay close to home can attend Quincy College’s Plymouth campus for an associate’s degree. High school graduates can also enroll in schools like Boston University, UMass Boston and Northeastern, which are all within about 45 miles and under one hour away by car.
Bay Farm Montessori Academy is just one of many prestigious schools in Kingston.
Nathaniel Morton Elementary School in Plymouth received a B from Niche
Plymouth Community Intermediate School in Plymouth offers a diverse academic curriculum.
North Plymouth High School has a vast campus with multiple sports fields.
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Crime patterns and less snow in Plymouth
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, by the end of 2023, Plymouth saw about .87 crime reports per 1,000 residents, which is slightly lower than the national average of 1.2. In 2024, the department was awarded $38,000 through Massachusetts’ Critical Incident Stress Management Grant Program to fund training, equipment and wellness programs. The police department also has an addiction and recovery initiative, along with other community engagement projects.
While most people associate New England with extreme winters, Plymouth gets less snow than the cities farther inland. “We may get the threat of snow and some Northeast winds and storms, but we’re used to it up here,” Villanueva says. “In Massachusetts, a foot and a half of snow isn’t a big deal, and we rarely ever get that in Plymouth.”
Transportation options near Plymouth County
State Routes 3 and 3A, along with U.S. Route 44 toward Interstate 495, serve as main thoroughfares in and out of Plymouth. The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority provides several bus routes for residents to get around the greater area. Seasonal ferries to Provincetown and several other lines to Plymouth and Cape Cod Bays launch from the State Wharf in Plymouth Center.
Plymouth Municipal Airport is 5 miles from the town center and services private jets. Commercial flights for international and domestic trips take off from Boston Logan International, around 40 miles away and the Rhode Island TF Green International Airport, about 50 miles southwest.
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