What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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	Mansfield	Plainfield
People
Population	691Lowest	1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,304±$14kHighest 3% above U.S.	$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Mansfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S.	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,153±$103 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,122Lowest 32% above U.S.	$4,806Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Mansfield 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.