What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the most people working from home (21.3%).

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	Shirley	Plainville
People
Population	1,146Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.2±14.6Lowest 14% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Shirley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,494±$62kHighest 34% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Shirley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,800±$50kHighest 19% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S.
	Plainville and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,398Lowest 41% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±15Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Shirley 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	#239 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	—	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.