What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).

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	Thornton
People
Population	9,943Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainville and Thornton 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%	19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Thornton 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 U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thornton 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 29% above U.S.	$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Plainville and Thornton 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.	$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Highest 71% above U.S.	$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thornton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thornton 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	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Plainville	Thornton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.