What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Townsend
People
Population	9,943Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Plainville and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Plainville and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend 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	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend 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 15% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Plainville and Townsend 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	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Plainville and Townsend 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	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Plainville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Plainville and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainville	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
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.