What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minerva has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Minerva	Plainfield
People
Population	836Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.2±5.7Highest 41% above NY	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY
Kids under 18	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Plainfield and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%
	Plainfield and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$70,673±$6kHighest 18% below NY
	Plainfield and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,800±$22kHighest 59% below NY	$155,100±$17kLowest 63% below NY
	Minerva and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$784±$102Highest 52% below NY	$750±$207Lowest 54% below NY
	Minerva and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,608Lowest 60% below NY	$2,667Highest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Plainfield and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NY: 14%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	11.6%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Minerva 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

NY 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.