What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).

Clinton has the most expensive homes ($387k 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	Plainfield	Clinton
People
Population	15,141Lowest	15,563Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+13.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.	38.6±2.7Highest about the U.S. average
	Clinton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Clinton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.	$89,781±$10kHighest 11% above U.S.
	Clinton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.	$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.	$4,654Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Clinton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Clinton 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	#131 of 149 in CT	#246 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainfield School District	Clinton
High school in town	Plainfield High School	Clinton Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.8Highest
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.