What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).

Plainfield has the most kids (19% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middlefield	Plainfield
People
Population	352Lowest	616Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA
	Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Plainfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
	Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA	$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA
	Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,926Highest 18% below MA	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Plainfield and Middlefield 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

MA 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.