What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).

Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).

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	Hampden
People
Population	15,141Highest	4,946Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.	50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Hampden 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.	$104,536±$16kHighest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.	$358,200±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.	$6,181Highest 98% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Hampden 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Hampden 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	#199 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainfield School District	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Plainfield High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
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.