What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).

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	Devens
People
Population	616Lowest	1,723Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA	48.6±4.3Lowest 22% above MA
	Plainfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%	5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA	$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA	$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA	$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA
	Devens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA	$5,556Highest 7% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Devens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Lowest MA: 10%	25.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Devens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.