What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Alstead
People
Population	9,943Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainville and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S.	$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S.	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,977±$197 40% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Highest 71% above U.S.	$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Alstead 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	#102 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Plainville	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.