What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most expensive homes ($436k median).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

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	Richmond	Plainville
People
Population	8,142Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.7±4.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Richmond and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Richmond and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,653±$27kHighest 54% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$435,800±$22kHighest 31% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Richmond and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,362Highest 104% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainville and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	11%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Richmond 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	#16 of 38 in RI	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Chariho	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Chariho High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.