What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).

Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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	Monroe	Plainfield
People
Population	122Lowest	1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.2±9.9Highest 55% above U.S.	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±28Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.1%±27.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9%±18.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$165,000±$141kLowest 50% below U.S.	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,153±$103 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,053Lowest 34% below 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 Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	38.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	56 minHighest 113% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	0%±41.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Monroe 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.