What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Winchendon 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	Winchendon
People
Population	17,551Highest	10,440Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.	39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Winchendon 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%	21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Winchendon 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.	$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S.
	Plainville and Winchendon 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.	$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S.
	Winchendon 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.	$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winchendon 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%	18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Winchendon
High school in town	Plainville High School	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	11.3Lowest
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.