What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

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	Middleton	Plainville
People
Population	9,816Lowest	9,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA	43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA
	Plainville and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainville and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Plainville and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainville and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA	$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA	$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,785Highest 47% above MA	$5,329Lowest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Plainville and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest MA: 10%	7.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.9%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Plainville and Middleton 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	#71 of 282 in MA	#102 of 282 in MA
School district	Middleton	Plainville
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.