What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).

Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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	Plainville	Athol
People
Population	17,551Highest	12,011Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Plainville and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.	$268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S.
	Athol and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S.
	Athol and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Athol 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	#89 of 149 in CT	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Plainville High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.6Highest
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.