What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k 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	Spencer
People
Population	17,551Highest	12,008Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.
	Spencer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Spencer and Plainville 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%	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Spencer 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Spencer 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.	$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
	Plainville and Spencer 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.	$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S.	$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Plainville and Spencer 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.	$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Spencer 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%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Plainville High School	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	9.9Lowest
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.