What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).

Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Spencer	Plainville
People
Population	12,008Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Spencer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Spencer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Spencer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Plainville and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S.
	Plainville and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Spencer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	David Prouty High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	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.