Compare towns
Devens vs Plainville vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Rowley has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
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 | Devens | Plainville | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
17,551Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rowley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% above U.S. |
| Devens and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Triton |
| High school in town | — | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.