What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).

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	Stow
People
Population	9,943Highest	7,165Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA	44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA
	Stow and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stow 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 MA: 17.9%	19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Plainville and Stow 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%	75.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Plainville and Stow 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 about the MA average	$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA	$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA	$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average
	Plainville and Stow 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	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Stow 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%	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#102 of 282 in MA	#44 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainville	Nashoba
High school in town	None 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.