What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	9,943Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge 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%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Plainville and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge 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±$13kLowest about the MA average	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kHighest 15% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Plainville and Sturbridge 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	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Lowest 11% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Plainville and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainville	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	None in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.