Compare towns
Plainville vs Alstead vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Lunenburg has the most kids (21.1% 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.
| Measure | Plainville | Alstead | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
1,551Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest 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% |
44% 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% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
— | $1,974±$586Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.