What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

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	Thornton	Plainville
People
Population	2,799Lowest	9,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S.	43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainville and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thornton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S.	$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Plainville and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.	$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S.	$5,329Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.8%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thornton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thornton 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	#18 of 120 in NH	#102 of 282 in MA
School district	Thornton School District	Plainville
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.