Compare towns
Danielson vs Spencer vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Danielson | Spencer | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,209Lowest |
12,008 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Danielson and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Danielson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Plainville 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | — | David Prouty High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.