What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).

Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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	Paxton	Plainfield
People
Population	5,002Highest	2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±3.3Highest 7% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Paxton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S.	$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S.
	Paxton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S.	$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Paxton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$88Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,129Lowest 129% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Paxton 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	#219 of 282 in MA	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	Wachusett	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.