What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the most expensive homes ($477k 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	Milford	Plainfield
People
Population	30,431Highest	15,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	38.9±1.8Highest about the U.S. average	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Milford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Milford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Milford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,365±$4kHighest 19% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,700±$12kHighest 43% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S.	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,869Highest 88% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Milford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Milford 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	#213 of 282 in MA	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Milford	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Milford High	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	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.