Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Plainville vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Lunenburg | Plainville | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
17,551Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Plainville 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% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Lunenburg 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Plainville High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.4 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.