What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southwick has the most expensive homes ($398k 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	Southwick	Plainville
People
Population	9,217Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Southwick and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Southwick and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Southwick and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,462±$16kHighest 49% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$397,500±$27kHighest 19% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,332±$72Highest 6% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Southwick and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,331Highest 71% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Southwick and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Southwick Regional School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.4Highest
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.