What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k 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	Pembroke
People
Population	15,141Lowest	18,382Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.	45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Pembroke 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%	19.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pembroke 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%	44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Pembroke 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.	$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.	$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.	$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.	$6,585Highest 111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pembroke 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%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#131 of 149 in CT	#82 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainfield School District	Pembroke
High school in town	Plainfield High School	Pembroke High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.3Highest
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.