What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($451k 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	Lincoln
People
Population	15,141Lowest	22,864Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.	43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lincoln and Plainfield 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%	24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lincoln 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.	$104,821±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.	$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.	$4,751Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.4%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lincoln 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%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln 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	#21 of 38 in RI
School district	Plainfield School District	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy
High school in town	Plainfield High School	Lincoln Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	14.7Highest
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.