What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Jefferson	Plainfield
People
Population	1,226Lowest	1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$69,250±$31kHighest 14% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,153±$103 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.	$4,806Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	73.2%±53.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson 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

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.