What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilbraham has the most expensive homes ($416k 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	Wilbraham	Plainville
People
Population	14,572Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±2.7 14% above U.S.	44.3±1.5 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilbraham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$241Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Wilbraham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,658Highest 113% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilbraham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Minnechaug Regional High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	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.