What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Dalton	Plainfield
People
Population	916Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±12.9Highest 14% above U.S.	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,429±$36kHighest about the U.S. average	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,400±$68kHighest 42% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
	Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$825Highest 36% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,561Highest 14% above U.S.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Dalton 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

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.