What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somerset has the most expensive homes ($419k 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	Somerset	Plainville
People
Population	18,298Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47±2.2Highest 21% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Somerset and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Somerset and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Somerset and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,677±$6kHighest 40% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$418,800±$18kHighest 26% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$93Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Somerset and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,977Highest 60% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somerset and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	12%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Somerset 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	#132 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Somerset Berkley Regional High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	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.