What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Great Barrington
People
Population	9,943Highest	7,202Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA	49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA
	Great Barrington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	14.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Plainville and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Great Barrington 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average	$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA
	Plainville and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA	$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA
	Great Barrington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA	$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Lowest 11% below MA	$5,935Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Great Barrington 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 MA: 10%	9.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	22 minLowest 25% below MA
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Great Barrington 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	#139 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainville	Berkshire Hills
High school in town	None in town	Monument Mt Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.