What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).

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	Middlefield
People
Population	616Highest	352Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA	56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA
	Middlefield and Plainfield 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%	4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%	28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Plainfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Middlefield 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	$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA	$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA
	Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA	$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA
	Middlefield 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	$4,926Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest MA: 10%	12.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98%Highest MA: 62.5%	94.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Plainfield and Middlefield 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.