What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has the most expensive homes ($464k median).

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Lunenburg	Plainfield
People
Population	11,902Lowest	15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Lunenburg and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lunenburg and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lunenburg and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Highest 105% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lunenburg and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lunenburg and Plainfield 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Lunenburg	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	10.3Lowest
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.