What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k 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	Plainville	Dudley
People
Population	17,551Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Dudley 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%	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.	$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Dudley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.	$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S.
	Dudley 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.	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dudley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Plainville High School	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.3Highest
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.