What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).

Plainville has the most homeowners (67.7%).

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	Lowell	Plainville
People
Population	118,368Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30% U.S.: 35.7%	30% U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average	$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Plainville and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Lowell 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	#255 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Lowell	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Lowell High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	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.