What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k 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	Northbridge
People
Population	17,551Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Plainville and Northbridge 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%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S.
	Northbridge and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.	$4,821Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge 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	#89 of 149 in CT	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Plainville High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.8Lowest
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.