What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most affordable homes ($235k median).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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	Jackson	Plainfield
People
Population	1,695Highest	1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S.	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Jackson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$8kHighest 4% below U.S.	$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Jackson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S.	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S.	$4,806Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	73.2%±53.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jackson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Jackson 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.