What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	9,943Highest	5,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+15.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA
	Salisbury 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%	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Plainville and Salisbury 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%	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Salisbury 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%	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury 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±$13kHighest about the MA average	$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA
	Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kHighest 15% below MA	$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA
	Plainville and Salisbury 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	$1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average
	Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Highest 11% below MA	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainville	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.