What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most expensive homes ($428k median).

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Charlton	Plainfield
People
Population	13,435Lowest	15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±4Highest 11% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Highest 48% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Charlton and Plainfield 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	#133 of 282 in MA	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	10.3Highest
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.