What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hatfield has the most expensive homes ($441k 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	Hatfield
People
Population	15,141Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.	46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Hatfield 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%	23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hatfield and Plainfield 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%	48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Hatfield 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.	$89,005±$25kHighest 10% above U.S.
	Hatfield 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.	$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S.
	Hatfield and Plainfield 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.	$4,930Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.6%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hatfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hatfield 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	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainfield School District	Hatfield
High school in town	Plainfield High School	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	6.1Lowest
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.