What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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	Winchendon	Plainville
People
Population	10,440Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S.	$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Plainville and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winchendon and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Winchendon	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Murdock High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.