What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danby has the most expensive homes ($272k median).

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	Danby	Plainfield
People
Population	1,133Highest	1,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S.	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,321±$13kHighest 4% below U.S.	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Danby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,400±$41kHighest 18% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$166Highest 44% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Danby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,543Highest 46% above U.S.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Danby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.