Compare towns
Plainville vs Temple 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Temple | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
1,363Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Temple and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below 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. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Temple 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 | Contoocook Valley 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 Our Story | 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.