Compare towns
Brookfield vs Mendon vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Mendon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,150Highest |
1,113 |
1,016Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 31% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197 about the U.S. average |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.

