What stands out worked out from the figures below

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).

Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).

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	Devens	Plainfield
People
Population	1,723Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±4.3Lowest 22% above MA	50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA
	Plainfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA	$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA
	Devens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,556Highest 7% below MA	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Devens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.3%Highest MA: 10%	16.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Devens and Plainfield 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

MA 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.