Compare towns
Plainville vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Dover | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Lowest |
33,364Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest 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%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainville 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. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above 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. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above 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. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586 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 | $5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Dover School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.