Compare towns
Hampton vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs East Otto
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
East Otto has the most kids (22.1% 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.
| Measure | Hampton | Plainfield | Middlesex | East Otto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
1,314 |
1,943Highest |
996Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.5±5.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Otto and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$64,605±$18kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$182,600±$27k 45% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$875±$166Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,105 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±39.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and East Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and East Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.