What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k 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	Sheffield
People
Population	15,141Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.	48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S.
	Sheffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Sheffield 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%	23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sheffield 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%	37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Sheffield 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.	$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Sheffield 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.	$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Sheffield 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.	$4,520Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Sheffield 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%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Sheffield 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	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainfield School District	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Plainfield High School	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	7.8Lowest
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.