What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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	Salem
People
Population	9,943Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Plainville and Salem 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%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Plainville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Plainville and Salem 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%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Plainville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Lowest 11% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem 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%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainville	Salem
High school in town	None in town	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
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.