What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arundel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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	Arundel	Plainfield
People
Population	4,418Highest	2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±6.4Highest 5% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Arundel and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,597±$17kLowest 26% above U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Plainfield and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$421,300±$62kLowest 27% above U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Plainfield and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$495Lowest 14% above U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
	Plainfield and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,763Lowest 21% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.2%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Arundel and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Arundel 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	#7 of 133 in ME	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Plainfield School District
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.