Compare towns
Plainville vs Jackson 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 the most renters (29.6% rent).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k 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 | Jackson | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
897Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1kLowest 24% 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. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Jackson 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 | 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.