What stands out worked out from the figures below

Taunton has the most expensive homes ($423k 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	Taunton	Plainville
People
Population	60,433Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,283±$7kLowest about the U.S. average	$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Plainville and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$9kHighest 27% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$86Highest 6% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Taunton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,344Lowest 39% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Taunton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville and Taunton 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	#253 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Taunton High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.6Highest	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.