Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sheffield vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Sheffield | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
3,330Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| 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. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Plainville 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% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sheffield and Plainville 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% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below 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. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Southern Berkshire | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Mt Everett Regional | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.8Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.