What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westford has the most expensive homes ($749k 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	Westford	Plainville
People
Population	24,690Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.8±1.2Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	73.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$187,198±$10kHighest 132% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$748,500±$32kHighest 125% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,436±$422Highest 72% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,695Highest 211% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westford and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	27%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Westford Academy	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	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.