What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alstead	Plainville
People
Population	1,551Lowest	9,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainville and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S.	$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.	$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,977±$197 40% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S.	$5,329Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.8%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#102 of 282 in MA
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Plainville
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.