What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lakeville has the most expensive homes ($566k median).

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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	Lakeville	Plainfield
People
Population	11,944Lowest	15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±1.9Highest 13% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lakeville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lakeville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,984±$11kHighest 66% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$565,900±$27kHighest 70% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,884±$466Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,536Highest 77% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lakeville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	15.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lakeville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#96 of 282 in MA	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Freetown-Lakeville	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Apponequet Regional High	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.3Lowest
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.