What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

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	Dudley	Plainville
People
Population	11,929Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Dudley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Dudley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dudley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.