What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k 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	Sheffield
People
Population	17,551Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S.
	Sheffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainville and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sheffield and Plainville 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%	37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Sheffield 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.	$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Sheffield 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.	$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Sheffield 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.	$4,520Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainville and Sheffield 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%	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 20% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Sheffield 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	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Plainville High School	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	7.8Lowest
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.