What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).

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	Petersham
People
Population	15,141Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Petersham 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.	$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
	Petersham 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.	$4,636Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Petersham 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%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Petersham 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	—
School district	Plainfield School District	Petersham
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.