What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most homeowners (88.4%).

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	Andover	Plainville
People
Population	2,135Lowest	9,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S.	43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Andover and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainville and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Andover and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S.	$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Plainville and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,500±$44kLowest 10% above U.S.	$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,962Highest 91% above U.S.	$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainville and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Andover 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	Andover 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.