What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k 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	Middleborough	Plainville
People
Population	24,505Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Middleborough and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleborough and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,056±$7kHighest 20% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Highest 93% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleborough and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middleborough and Plainville 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	#170 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Middleborough	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Middleborough High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.4Highest
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.