What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).

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

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	Salisbury	Plainville
People
Population	9,281Lowest	9,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA	43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%	22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA	$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average
	Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA
	Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA	$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA
	Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Lowest 23% below MA	$5,329Highest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8%	53.8%±13.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest MA: 10%	7.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA	#102 of 282 in MA
School district	Triton	Plainville
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.