The Town FilesSouth Duxbury, Massachusetts
Community in Plymouth County · population 3,463 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $982,000
- Household income
- $212,734
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 49.6
South Duxbury is a community of 3,463 people in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $982,000, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns, more of a college town than 98% of Massachusetts towns, more seaside character than 94% of Massachusetts towns.
How South Duxbury ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Duxbury is worth $982,000, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $212,734, which is more affordable than 49% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $3,000 a month. 96.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Duxbury | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $982,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $3,000 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $212,734 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 96.2% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.1% | — |
Who lives in South Duxbury
| People | South Duxbury | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.0% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 27.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 36.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in South Duxbury
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 52.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.9 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Duxbury since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 4, 1964 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Plymouth County since 1996
Plymouth County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Plymouth County
Plymouth County had 194,985 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,858 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in South Duxbury itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near South Duxbury
- Duxbury, MA2.0 mi · 16,090 people · home $874,600
- Kingston, MA2.2 mi · 5,700 people · home $589,900
- North Plymouth, MA3.0 mi · 3,983 people · home $494,500
- Kingston, MA3.4 mi · 13,708 people · home $610,600
- Plymouth, MA4.3 mi · 7,667 people · home $446,800
- Marshfield, MA5.8 mi · 4,653 people · home $675,300
- Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, MA6.0 mi · 4,744 people · home $554,000
- Marshfield, MA6.8 mi · 25,825 people · home $680,300
South Duxbury questions
Is South Duxbury, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Duxbury scores better for retirees than 80% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 28%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in South Duxbury?
The median owner-occupied home in South Duxbury is valued at $982,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $212,734, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $3,000 a month.
What is the weather like in South Duxbury?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.8 inches of precipitation a year and 37.9 inches of snow.
Does South Duxbury get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Duxbury since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 4, 1964. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)